LEARN THE SIGNS

SIGNS SOMETIMES SHOWN BY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ABUSED OR IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE:

Individuals express their feelings through behaviors and words. Continue to monitor your loved one’s behavior over time; their feelings will change as they move through different developmental stages. If you notice changes you are concerned about, speak with a mental health professional or call the Community Call Line at 612-813-8300.

  • Changes in appetite or eating habits

  • Nightmares or other changes in sleeping patterns

  • Bed wetting

  • Sexually inappropriate behavior

  • Explicit sexual knowledge, behavior, and/or language for their age

  • Regression in skills or abilities

  • Anger, aggressiveness

  • Mood changes; agitation, hyperactivity, irritability, fears, or phobias

  • Changes in school performance

  • Withdrawal from others; avoidance of school, friends, or activities

  • Rebelliousness, lying

  • Depression, suicide attempts

  • Unexplained illness; nausea or upset stomach, headache

  • Frequent genital infections

  • Delinquent behaviors; truancy, alcohol or drug use, running away

  • Avoiding the offender or behavior shifts around a specific person

  • May appear to be going through a “phase”

  • Change in play habits and the way they treat their playthings, for example:

    • Change in play habits developmentally

    • Inappropriate or over-sexualized play

    • Significant or sudden shift in aggressiveness or consistently aggressive

If you have noticed these behaviors and are concerned about a child, adolescent, or vulnerable adult, speak with a mental health professional or call the Community Call Line at 612-813-8300.

You may also contact Child Protection Services to make a report.

Señales de Abuso

Keep EVERY Child Safe:
Child Abuse Prevention Training

1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will experience some type of abuse or maltreatment by the age of 18. And it happens to children of all ages.

90% of abuse happens at the hands of someone the child knows - at home, sleepovers, sports, camps, carpools, in teen relationships, and more. Learn how to improve a child’s safety when you can’t always be with them.

Assuming that it can't or won't happen to the children in your circle is an unsafe bet. You have the power to keep kids safe.

Prevent Abuse