Children witnessed violence in 30% of Tirol partner abuse cases

Children were involved in 30 percent of around 250 recorded cases of partner violence in Tirol, ORF reports. Experts warn that witnessing violence at home can have lasting psychological effects on children and teenagers.

Thomas Beck, head of the violence protection clinic at tirol kliniken, said the number of children exposed to family violence is rising. He said the findings in Tirol also apply across Austria, and that the increase in affected children is linked to the rising number of partner violence cases.

Violence between parents can change how children view relationships, said Susanne Greber-Platzer, president of the Austrian Society for Child Protection Medicine. Children may blame themselves for their parents’ violence, she said. The emotional strain can undermine their resilience and contribute to social withdrawal and problems at school.

Kathrin Sevecke, head of the child and adolescent psychiatry department and director of the university clinic in Hall and Innsbruck, said it was important to identify children who witness violence. She called for staff in places such as schools to be trained to recognise the signs, noting that these children may not have visible injuries.

Tirol’s education councillor, Cornelia Hagele of the Austrian People’s Party, also called for teacher training and broader public awareness of the forms of violence children can experience. The issue is the focus of the eighth annual meeting of the Austrian Society for Child Protection Medicine in Innsbruck.