Child Abuse Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Child Abuse, including details on family violence, examinations, long-term effects, psychiatrics disorders.

Safeguarding, child protection and mental health.

Hall D, Williams J

Community Paediatrics, Institute of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. d.hall@sheffield.ac.uk

The term "safeguarding" is widely used but its meaning and its relationship to child protection have not been precisely defined. It is a more inclusive concept than child protection and emphasises not only the diagnosis and management of child abuse as conventionally understood but also the importance of recognising children in distress and intervening where possible to prevent a range of adverse outcomes. Achieving these goals will depend in part on greater awareness and more extensive training in psychosocial issues and the mental health of children and young people, and their parents.

Published 24 December 2007 in Arch Dis Child, 93(1): 11-3.
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