What is abuse?

Child abuse is when anyone under 18 is being harmed or isn't being properly looked after.

There are four main types of abuse:

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Neglect

Physical abuse

This is when someone hurts a child or young person on purpose. Physical abuse can include:

• Hitting
• Shaking
• Poisoning
• Burning
• Drowning
• Suffocating
• Making a child ill

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse is when someone under the age of 16 is told, asked or forced to take part in sexual activities. There are many different ways in which a young person can be sexually abused, including:

• making them do sexual things either to themselves or with other people
• involving them in the making of films, videos or DVDs or taking photos and videos on mobile phones that involve sexual activity
• making them watch sexual behaviour

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse happens in many different ways. It can affect how a young person or child feels about themselves, how they feel they fit in with their friends, at school, or where they live. Examples of emotional abuse are:

• being made to feel inadequate, wrong or unhappy
• being unfairly blamed
• being bullied
• being made to feel frightened or in danger
• seeing or hearing someone from home being hurt by another member of the family (domestic violence)

Neglect

Neglect is when a child or young person is not being properly looked after. This could damage their health or wellbeing. These very basic needs include:

• food shelter (a safe place to stay/roof over your head)
• safety at home
• proper clothing
• good cleanliness being
• kept warm
• any necessary medical treatment
• protection from physical and emotional harm or danger

If you or someone you know is being abused then please tell someone