In 2021, almost half (43%) of the victims of child neglect and abuse were young children ages five and younger and one-third (32%) were ages three and younger.
Child neglect and abuse that occurs during the first three years often disrupts the development of trusting, secure relationships, and infants and young children who have been maltreated need special attention and services to get on track for positive development.
Nationally in 2020, 74% of child maltreatment deaths involved neglect and 43% involved physical abuse (because a victim may have suffered more than one type of maltreatment, these categories are not mutually exclusive).
*Rhode Island Kid’s Count Issue Brief March 2022 Child Abuse and Neglect in Rhode Island: Prevention and Support for Children and Families
During 2019, approximately one in five (18.8%) youths had seriously considered attempting suicide, one in six (15.7%) had made a suicide plan, one in 11 (8.9%) had made an attempt, and one in 40 (2.5%) had made a suicide attempt requiring medical treatment.
Preventing adverse childhood experiences (e.g., child maltreatment) can help reduce suicide risk among adolescents through strategies that promote safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments in childhood
*Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019. Asha Z. Ivey-Stephenson, PhD; ZewdituDemissie, PhD; Alexander E. Crosby, MD; Deborah M. Stone, ScD; Elizabeth Gaylor, MPH; Natalie Wilkins, PhD; Richard Lowry, MD; Margaret Brown, DrPH. Division of Injury Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC; Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC; Office of the Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC. US Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MMWR / August 21, 2020 / Vol. 69 / No. 1
