Child Abuse Considerations During COVID-19

Date of Review: March, 2021

SAMHSA recognizes the challenges posed by COVID-19 and is providing the following guidance and resources to assist individuals, providers, communities and states. Violence in the home has an overall cost to society, leading to potentially adverse physical and mental health outcomes, including a higher risk of chronic disease, substance use, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and risky sexual behaviors. Children are specifically vulnerable to abuse during COVID-19. Research shows that increased stress levels among parents is often a major predictor of physical abuse and neglect of children. The support systems that many at-risk parents rely on, such as extended family, child care and schools, religious groups and other community organizations, are no longer available in many areas due to the stay-at-home orders. Since children are not going to school, teachers and school counselors are unable to witness the signs of abuse and report to the proper authorities. —Ashley Darcy Mahoney, PhD, NNP-BC, FAAN