Child Psychology Commons^™

Thoughts Of Suicidality And Self-Harm In Middle Childhood: Relationship With Child Maltreatment And Maternal Substance Abuse And Depression, Tara K. Cossel, Natasha Elkovitch, David J. Hansen

Tara K. Cossel (Tara Morton)

Child maltreatment victims are at increased risk for a multitude of symptoms, including: internalizing problems (e.g., depression, anxiety), behavior problems (e.g., aggression) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (Paolucci, Genuis, & Violato, 2001). Not all maltreated children present with the same outcomes, and research consistently demonstrates child abuse does not have an inevitable pattern or a unified presentation of symptoms. Some youth may be asymptomatic following abuse; others display a myriad of symptoms at varying levels of severity (Kendall-Tackett, Williams, & Finkelhor, 1993). A small percentage of this group becomes suicidal.

Recent studies have presented accumulating evidence that suicidality and self-harm warrant …

Child Sexual Abuse Victims And Their Families Receiving Services At A Child Advocacy Center: Mental Health And Support Needs, Tara K. Cossel, David J. Hansen

Tara K. Cossel (Tara Morton)

The purpose of this study is to document the effects of child sexual abuse among children, siblings and non-offending parents so the needs of child victims and their families can be further addressed. Children are often referred to Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) for mental health and other support needs. Today most sexually abused children receive the same treatment from CACs, but there is variability in the symptoms and needs these children and their family members present with. Recent research has begun to investigate the variability in symptom patterns of sexual abuse victims, finding aspects of the abuse including severity, duration, …