Stop flogging your children” – Psychiatrists tell parents, says it causes ‘anxiety disorder

Stop flogging your children” – Psychiatrists tell parents, says it causes ‘anxiety disorder

Mental health experts in Nigeria have raised alarms over the practice of flogging and corporal punishment of children, warning that such actions inflict severe psychological harm and can lead to long-term anxiety disorders.

The psychiatrists described the action as “barbaric and psychologically destructive,” saying that many children subjected to these punishments develop trauma, low self-esteem, depression, and other mental health issues later in life.

Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Yesiru Kareem also condemned the use of corporal punishment in prayer houses and deliverance centres, explaining that children are often beaten under the pretext of casting out evil spirits or correcting “spiritual stubbornness.”

Dr. Kareem said:

“The matter of flogging, physical abuse, and other myriads of physical punishments, particularly for the vulnerable, especially children, and especially with a spiritual cleansing or spiritual context, is highly disturbing. This is because spirituality should actually help humanity. It is meant to correct some of the errors that we have.

But if it now comes with errors as a problem…this is akin to what we see today in our so-called spiritual homes, where excessive beating, flogging, and other forms of physical torture are now the order of the day.

Apparently, this would not be without several forms of psychological consequences—some immediate, some in the short term, and of course, long-term psychological effects.”

He added: “Some may develop low self-esteem, and to cope, resort to substance abuse, which can then lead to addiction.

This is because physical punishment alters brain function and can disrupt the developing brain of children and young adults

Dr. Kareem also emphasised the role of culture in seeking care.

“The culture of every culture should be to seek orthodox care when it is available. That is why the government strives to make care accessible. So if in this age, we still depend on beating people as healing, then there is a problem, he said.

He warned: “If we are not careful, we are going to start normalising violence, aggression, intimidation, and abuse, and this will do nothing but further escalate that harm.”