Suicidal ideation and child abusers. Three case studies.
1. Although the topic of the treatment of child abusers does not evoke much sympathy in the public or the mental health profession, the solution to this problem does not lie in hoping that all abusers should commit suicide--or that suicide is a deserved outcome for the abuser. 2. Our first priority is and should remain the child's safety; however, in too many cases the abuser-perpetrator is inextricably linked to the child, and whatever happens to the abuser may have consequences for the child. 3. It is hoped that the skewed punitive view of the abuser will change as we better understand the dynamics among violence, depression, and child abuse in our society. We could then offer the victim and perpetrator better treatment and improve our preventive strategies.
Carrey
N J
NJ
University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention