When might emotional abuse occur? What might it involve?

Emotional abuse can occur on its own. But may be experienced as part of other types of abuse. Such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Examples of what emotional abuse may involve include:

• Putting a child down. Making them feel they are useless or not loved
• Not giving a child the space to express their views
• Silencing a child, or ‘making fun’ of them
• Expecting a child to do things that are too much for their age
• Over-protecting a child. Preventing a child from taking part in normal social activities
• Exposing a child to the ill-treatment of someone else. Such as seeing or hearing domestic abuse
• Causing a child to feel frightened or in danger at home.

Children of any age can suffer emotional abuse. And the person responsible for the abuse may be an adult or a child. They may live in the child’s home or live elsewhere.

Emotional abuse can be deliberate. But it can also happen where families are struggling or overwhelmed. Or where parents or carers don’t have the information or help they need to understand or meet their child’s needs.