Due to the complexity and enormity of the problems faced by adolescent runaways it is almost impossible to overstate the myriad of negative forces that place pressure upon the youth. Sexual and physical abuse is prevalent among runaway youth, as well as substance abuse, victimization, mental health problems and problems with the juvenile justice system (Rohr, 1996). These problems are frequently seen in many facets of the youth population; however, the runaway population is often forced to face these issues without a stable home or place to stay. Prevalent in the life of an adolescent runaway is sexual and physical abuse. Thrane, Yoder, and Chen provide a startling statistic that 27%-43% of female and 3%-15% of male runaways report being …show more content…
Stein et al. (2009) found that adolescent who left home due to abuse and violence were more likely to commit criminal behavior when on the streets. Combining the child’s previous experience with physical abuse and his or her behavior on the streets, the runaway is now at risk to be entering into physical altercations with others continuing the cycle that they sought to escape. More concerning is the adolescent is further entering into deviant behavior which will limit their ability to remove themselves from the lifestyle they have created. Putting this together it can be said that adolescent runaways face a great likelihood that they will be either sexually or physically abused during a runaway episode. In addition, the risk of these negative outcomes is increased by a past of sexual or physical abuse in their home. Sadly, this portrays a bleak outlook for children who do runaway from an abusive …show more content…
As previously mentioned many runaways come from homes with some sort of mental illness predominately depression. Tucker, Edelen, Ellickson, and Klein (2011) cite that running away from home increases the risk factors of intrapersonal vulnerability such as depression. Erdem and Slesnick suggest that as much as 89% of runaway youth meet the criteria for major depression (2010). This high prevalence is profound and highlights the amount of runaways with possible depression. Expanding on the high-risk adolescent runaways face for depression is the disturbing fact that many of these children are grappling with a difficult illness with little or no support. Slesnick et al. found that only 22% of adolescents seeking services at a runaway shelter access mental health services (2013). This statistic is critical because it highlights the fact that even when runaways have access to mental health services a vast majority does not take advantage of the resources. As runaways continue to remain on the streets they are faced with worsening depression and are unable or unwilling to seek
Statistics show that throughout the years there have been many runaway cases. To help prevent this, the National Runaway Safeline, formally know...
Scott, R. (1980). Coordinating Services for Runaway Youth: The Case of New York City. Journal of Family Issues, 1(2), 308-310. Retrieved from Education Research Complete database.
Meade, M. & Slesnick, N. (2002). Ethical considerations for research and treatment with runaway and homeless adolescents. Journal of Psychology, 149(4), 449-463. doi:
People constantly overlook the severity of depression, more importantly, major teen depression, which presents a legitimate obstacle in society. The intensity of teen depression results from society’s general lack of acknowledgement of the rising affair. In 2012, “28.5% of teens were depressed” and 15.8% of teens contemplated the option of suicide (Vidourek 1 par. 1), due to their major depression going unnoticed or untreated for. Even teenagers themselves often ignore their depression or remain in denial because neither them nor anyone else recognizes the signs. “A sudden change in behavior is a main sign of someone being depressed, which could lead to having suicidal thoughts,” stated Pam Farkas, a clinical social worker in California (Aguilar 1 par. 8). The warning signs and risk factors of teen depression include behavioral issues, social withdrawal, and inadequate interest in activities (Adolescents and Clinical Depression 2 par. 3), yet the unawareness of these signs does not allow professional medical attention to intercede. Deaths, illnesses, rejection, relationship issues, and disappointment present passages down the negative path of teen depression, but treatments, such as psychotherapy, intervention programs, and antidepressants express ways to subdue this major problem. Knowledge of the increasing dilemma needs to circulate, in order to promote stable teen lives in the present and future world. Understanding major teen depression, the events and incidents that lead to depression, and how to overcome the problem will lead to a decrease in major teen depression and its growing issue in society.
Abuse and neglect are one of the top three leading causes of youth homelessness. “Studies show 70 percent of homeless youth have suffered some form of physical, sexual or emotional abuse”
Youth become homeless for a number of reasons including: family violence and neglect, rejection due to sexual orientation or gender identity, the overwhelmed child welfare system and extreme poverty. These youth almost always have experienced unimaginable abuse and trauma, in their homes, their communities, and on the street. It is the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA)-funded services and programs that help to rectify the deep injustices that homeless youth experience on a daily basis.
Homelessness….. Many assume those who are homeless took part in some type of drug or alcohol abuse which lead them to become homeless. It is an ongoing situation that has not been fully resolved in order to lower the risk of individuals of the youth population becoming homeless. The age group for homeless individuals who qualify as youth is nineteen years of age and under. In the United States, dysfunctional families are occurring more frequent, which is a vital reason adolescents are running away from their homes. This alone puts many of our youth at risk of becoming homeless. When adolescents leave their homes, it decreases their chances of having a smooth transition into adulthood. Some adolescents may leave their home because
Twenty-five percent of all participating adolescents experienced physical abuse, which is a nearly three-fold increase in risk compared to the general population. Prevalence rates in residential care, especially in secure care, were significantly higher than in foster care” (Euser, Alink, Tharner, Van IJzendoorn, Bakersman-Kranenburg, 2013). Children who are abused often act out in other forums. These are the children that become the bullies, or begin stealing from stores. They also have a decrease in grades. It is sometimes difficult for children who are abused before entering foster care, to find a home placement due to their background. Many foster families do not want to take a chance with an abused child who may begin to act out, especially with older children. Abused children many times, turn to drugs and alcohol. They become addicted to these things and when they become legal age to live on their own, they become homeless. They do not have the skills and knowledge that they need to
In the article "Greg Ousley is Sorry For Killing His Parents. Is That Enough" by Scott Anderson in the New York Times states how "all [Greg] ever thought about was murder and suicide"(5). This shows how the children that grow up in abusive homes end up potentially feeling. Most juveniles that committed heinous crimes toward their families is because there was emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in the household; like Jacob Ind, Greg Ousley, Nate Ybanez, and much more. For example Nate Ybanez household was full of fear and sexual abuse by both parents, such things lead kids that can not find to help with no solution but to either kill themselves or their abusive
Martinez, Ruby J. “Understanding Runaway Teens.” Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. 19.2 (2006): 77-88. ProQuest. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Today child neglect is the largest part of child abuse in the United States, and almost two-thirds of all reported cases in child protective services is neglect (Dubowitz). Before the 1970’s child abuse mostly referred to physical abuse; however, now it encompasses physical, emotional, and sexual abuse as well as neglect (Compton’s). Physical abuse is when a child is hurt by getting hit, punched, kicked, or any other form of beating by an adult (Compton’s). This abuse will only harm the child physically and though it is horrific and can lead to long term effects it will normally only lead to violence. Emotional abuse is when an adult is hateful to the child by calling him names, and another form of emotional abuse is when an adult is punishing a child in a way that will cause him mental trauma (Compton’s). Emotional abuse is terrible for the child’s self-esteem however they can go and learn that they are important to the world by their contributions. Sexual abuse is when a child is touched inappropriately or molested (Compton’s). This is detrimental to a child but in most cases the child will block this out for when they grow older it is like it never happened which will cause no harm to their mental state. Neglect is when an adult will not seek medical help for their child and will not provide them with food, shelter, clothing, or emotional support (Sullivan). This is where the real trauma takes place on a child. The child will not suffer from being hit but they suffer from starving until someone is kind enough to feed them or they die from malnutrition. The child will not suffer from a parent calling them names but they might never know if their parent knows their name or cares to even speak to th...
Youths who have entered the justice system have often been diagnosed with mental disorders or diseases. “A majority of adolescents formally involved in juvenile court have at least one, if not more than one, significant emotional or learning impairment, or maltreatment experience” (Mallet, 2013). The existence of these diseases often effect the juvenile’s stability and ability to make rational decisions. Which may result in them engaging in criminal activities The prevalence of disruptive behavior disorders among youths in juvenile justice systems is reported to be between 30 percent and 50 percent (The mental health needs of juvenile offenders). The difficulties of these disorders are often
As a society we often find it difficult to swallow the fact that children are capable of engaging in and committing crimes. The thought of a child, a being that represents innocence, would perform an act that deviates to social order shocks and confuses society. The questions of, how could you do that? What were you thinking? Which, then leads to statements like, “We did not raise that way! ” or “You know better than that!” when trying to comprehend the concept of the unacceptable actions of juveniles. Suicides, runaways, and later life offending seem to have a common link of juvenile delinquency. Children deviating from societal norms can affect the future of society because offending. Juvenile offending can be the result of a plethora of culprits and perhaps, as a society we can to come to terms with there not being one exclusive answer to explain why juveniles deviate from social norms.
There has been a mass increase of juvenile delinquency in the United States, which has made a notable change in our society as a whole. It also directly affects parents, teachers, families, the perpetrators themselves, and of course, the victims. Law enforcement agencies in the United States have made an estimated 2.11 million arrests of minors. These perpetrators who were arrested have either been placed in confinement or they are under court supervision. Juvenile delinquency is described as illegal or immoral behavior, generally among young people under the legal age of eighteen. In order to reduce these high rates of delinquency, parents, and other adult figures, must first ask themselves, what is causing this? What external and internal
More than one million teens, most under the age of eighteen, run away from home every year. The reason is the lack of communication with parents. Sometimes teenagers want their parent listen to their needs. They often feel things are hopeless and that their parents would never understand. For example, my best girlfriend who used to think that she wasn't smart enough to finish high school. Her parents rarely looked over homework with her when she needed them. They were not interesting to what she had to...