......And/or debilitating chronic illness resulting there from?

If the parents/family, (sometimes abusers themselves) cannot and/or, in some cases perhaps, will not be responsible for our youth, then is there anyone else who can, will and might help?

Is it fair to expect...'knowing people'... ,,, ....or someone, anyone to put forth some amount of effort to intervene? (great or not as great) ...but real action and efforts, none-the-less, to intervene and proactively help vulnerable children/youth.


Why and how on earth, (were) and are children allowed to visibly suffer trauma(s) and/or traumatic abuses, as well as, unnecessary and untreated continuing emotional / psyche illness and not receive the intervention and help that they so desperately need?

Just wondering if anyone has any opinions, thoughts, experiences and/or understanding or reasoning for such atrocities that have occured and I presume continues to this day.

I'm not talking about when those in the position to help or find help for another human being (reference specifically to children/youth in this case) don't know, I'm referring to when this sort of thing: (traumatic ongoing abuses and trauma) & clear illness is likely and/or noticed through another's awareness, observation or it's simply obvious.

Any amount of thought and sharing regarding this, would be most helpful.

My simplest answer is that in an ideal world I think everyone is responsible to some degree. I have heard that if one can do something but doesn't, they are contributing to the problem. I know that there are some circumstances or exceptions where this may not be possible, however I think anyone can do something small and even anonymous if they must such as a phone call to the right person.

Of course this isn't an ideal world and in reality are things ever so simple? If a parent or caretaker of a child isn't responsible then how can that line be crossed without creating a sticky situation?

I think that awareness is key. It is something that anyone can raise simply by opening his or her mouth. I remember learning about PTSD for the first time when someone came into my school and gave a talk on it. For others the web might be the way to go; a link to the proper information, for example. If we as a society are more able to recognize what is going on, then maybe it would be easier to do something about it.

Just about brought tears to my eyes reading this. Thank you Lucky L. for sharing.

Hope

"It takes a village to raise a child," and I say it also takes a village to protect a child. Yes, there are systems in place (such as D.S.S. in the US), but we all know that most children fall through the cracks. Yes, teachers and school administrators should be looking out for these kids, but as many children and families hide abuse and trauma, it is impossible to reach every child.

Therefore, as Lucky said, we are ALL responsible. As ethical human beings, we have a responsibility and obligation to our fellow man/woman/child. Every person is responsible for others, even those whom we don't know.

Where I live, there are many of those "Not On Our Watch" (savedarfur.org) signs on people's lawns. Well, I was reading an editorial yesterday that hit a nerve. It IS happening; it IS on our watch. So, the question remains: What are we going to DO about it? Talking is great, spreading awareness is better, but what else?

I challenge all of us, myself included, to do something in the next week, (whether that means writng a letter to someone in your government or going out to volunteer in your community), to help someone...to be a rescuer. Children...adults...doesn't matter. We were all children once, and (as we know) trauma doesn't just go away once you reach adulthood. Let's use our personal experiences to help make the world a safer place for others.

Hi Hope, great thread....lots of food for thought. If it's clear enough, yes, I think everyone has a responsibility...but sometimes (and I'm not trying to minimize the real cases of abuse) but sometimes people are too quick to point things out...I believe that occasionally spanking a kid (not hard and not often, of course) is an ok way to discipline them, and someone may interpret this as abuse and call in whatever agencies etc...and the kid might be taken away from parents who actually love them very much and don't actually abuse them and this could then lead to kids falling through the cracks in the system...possibly being placed in an abusive situation etc...I've heard of a case here in Canada where a woman from...I can't remember,...I think it was Romania took her toddler to a doctor several times for colds etc. and they almost took the kid away...because the mother was overprotective???(the woman went back to Romania) meanwhile, real cases of abuse are going unnoticed... I don't know...all I'm saying is...it can be tough to recognize...As you say though, for cases that are beyond a doubt...yeah, everyone should be more aware and willing to act...

But then, as Nic also points out...how can millions and millions (actually probably billions) of people (large numbers of whom are children) be allowed to starve do death, to die from preventable disease, to live on a dollar a day etc? (Sorry, don't mean to take away from your actual topic...it's just that it's so mind-boggling)...