Thread by @docbhooshan

Getting psychological help for children locally.
Indians settled in developed countries.
#Thread
Focus - mal treatement of child by a family member

Since I started practice in 2000, every year I receive 5-10 calls from Indians settled in EU, UK and north america about help for a child who is at risk from a family member (mostly father but occasionally mother too).

This involves the parent being emotionally and physically abusive towards child (almost always under 10 years of age).
These families are highly educated and well settled.

One of the parent usually has an anger issue/alcohol problem or long standing mental health issue.

Child is target of these difficulties and frequent, serious beatings accompanied by verbal and emotional abuse is common. Mother also faces similar problem but is reluctant to report that.

"but he is so loving otherwise and always apologises for all of this afterwards. Please counsel the child to not trigger him."

When I hear this, my heart sinks.

It is clear that responsibility of father's behaviour is already put on the child. Unfair and impossible task.

Social services for families and children are well established in all developed countries. But we Indians have 2 misconceptions about them -

1. They are for black population and drug addicted white population
2. Main job of social services is to take kids away from families and arrest/deport parents.

When you read it here, it is laughable but this is what most Indians seem to think of social services. Their income level and education notwithstanding.

It is an urban legend among Indians and it prevents women from seeking help against abuse.

It is quite clear that patriarchy that is so deeply ingrained in our society fuels and sustains such convenient myths.

8-10% of reported cases usually result in an investigation where charges are pressed and children taken into care is far smaller proportion of reported cases.

But it is almost impossible to convince these battered women that help is available and they need to pick up the phone.

This is an experience of social workers worldwide. Persons in most need of help, stay away from it.

My questions to my Indian friends settled abroad -
1. Is this acknowledged problem in your friend/family circle?
2. Are you aware of these misconceptions prevalent in Indian population?
3. Are there any programs addressing this?

I am aware that informal helplines are established in few areas with high concentration of Indians but these efforts are inadequate.

So how does Indian diaspora plan to address this issue of children and women at risk?

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