Page 5990 - Week 18 - Thursday, 12 December 1991
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The very important point is that children are not born with behavioural disturbance. It is imperative that early detection and prevention be made possible. This was certainly an area where much more emphasis needed to be placed by the inquiry. The correlation between learning difficulties and behavioural disturbance has been demonstrated. It has also been concluded that personality characteristics are different in children with conduct disorders than in others.
I heard Mr Jensen mention that children are not necessarily born with behavioural disturbance. I would say to Mr Jensen that they are not born with behavioural disturbance. Sometimes there are disabilities at birth which then contribute to behavioural disturbance later on, but no child is born with behavioural disturbance.
Doctors, teachers, counsellors and community workers have identified a strong relationship between effective parenting skills and behavioural disturbance in children and young people. A lot of people who came before us and some members of the committee cried out for more parenting skills classes to be made available. I put it to the Assembly that there are a range of parenting classes available. It is unfortunate that most parents do not see the necessity to make use of those classes. I am aware of some classes where they have not had enough numbers and have not been able to continue.
Again, it is an attitudinal thing. We have to try to instil in parents the importance of taking those sorts of classes. We should not just go out and make more classes available. The attitudinal problem is the one we have to contend with, and that is making parents recognise the need to be part of that process. You can have as many classes as you like; but, unfortunately, very often they will not be well attended.
I mentioned earlier, when I answered a statement Mr Jensen made, that there are other causes, such as a single traumatic incident or disabilities the child is born with, that can contribute to behavioural disturbance; but I have to stress that no child is born with behavioural disturbance. Things such as family and cultural influences also have some effect.
The quality of care received is another factor. Several studies have indicated that ongoing excessive unresolved and maladaptive conflict in families can contribute to behavioural disturbance, and I acknowledge that point. In some cases that does happen, and certainly it would contribute to behavioural disturbance at a later age rather than at an early age.
The report has identified specific issues relating to adolescents with behavioural disturbance, and I think that is very important. It deals with such things as accommodation, and it also identifies problems in relation
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