Protecting Children with Mental Disorders
Who are the predators? Predators are Cyber Stalkers, serial killers/rapists, rapists, paedophiles, women beaters, child abusers, thieves, and so on. Predators often have mental problems that prevent them from behaving properly in normal society. Children with mental disorders are often the prey of these predators, and sometimes children with mental disorders are the predators themselves. In fact, the distributor of one of the most dangerous viruses online came from an eighteen-year old from England.
Dangers mental illnesses: Not everyone with a mental disorder is a danger to society. Generally, predators with mental disorders are plagued with sociopathic, psychopathic and anti-social disorders, oppositional defiance, conduct control disorders, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorders (BPD), and psychosis. While there are a few other mental disorders that pose threats to our society, this is a list of the most common potential dangers that lurk on the streets and on the Internet.
How to save a child with mental disorders from dangers : Never treat your child as if he/she has a mental disorder. Treat your child as special, yet avoid treating the child as if he/she is mentally ill, since many mentally ill patients are extremely intelligent. Teach your child the same rules that other children have to live by and stick to the rules. Do not leave room for doubt when danger is present. Teach your child respect by showing respect yourself.
Children with dangerous mental illnesses will often want to watch pornography, violent images, content, et cetera. This makes it difficult as a parent to protect your child. However, it is important that you enforce the rules. Never put yourself in danger while enforcing these rules, since some children with dangerous problems may cause you harm.
If the child refuses to listen to you, bring in the police and make sure that they do their job to help you enforce the rules. You may have to pay court fees and go through all sorts of rigmarole, but I can promise you that it will benefit you in the end. As a mother who is raising two boys with dangerous mental illnesses, I can tell you it won’t be easy but it can be done.
Children with mental illnesses often have brilliant minds that can often get round any parental controls and will do so without you even knowing. Take more time than normal to monitor your child’s behaviour online. Teach your child that giving out personal information is dangerous and encourage them to request your permission when thinking about divulging name, phone number or other details online.
Allow your child to take some responsibility for himself and always encourage your child to join in family discussions that involve them. Furthermore, encourage the child to be safety conscious by telling them to report any misdemeanour committed against them.
One of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do while raising a child with mental health issues is encouraging him/her to stay away from violent images and pornography. It is next to impossible to keep them away from this rubbish. However, it can be done, if you set a good example for the child.
It is important that you leave the channels of communication open. Allow your child to express concerns, opinions, ideals, theories et cetera without demeaning the child. You will be astounded at the knowledge children with certain mental disorders have, if you will only listen.
The best advice I can offer you for dealing with children with major mental illnesses, such as psychopathy, is to seek help and stand firm. For additional child safety advice for children with mental disorders get advice from a qualified counsellor.
Note Well: Children learn what they see and hear.
