Quarantine has been one of the biggest struggles many of us have had to face during this pandemic. Many teens cannot fathom the thought of not being able to go out and be with their friends. However, there is a bigger issue we are not addressing. 

          Many children view schools as a sanctuary from their at-home lives. It is a place where they can be a bit more at peace; however, this has been taken away from them. With school being cancelled until further notice, students have no real escape.

           Now, their circumstances worsen as they spend more time at home with a person they fear most: an abuser. 

          80% of child abuse perpetrators are family members, leaving the possibility of abuse to rise during these times. The longer these kids stay in these environments, the risk of the abuse worsening increases. 

         Several families are going through stress and tension because of the loss of jobs and financial issues. These issues can increase anger within parents, leading them to lash out on their children. Though it is nowhere near the child’s fault, the parents don’t have other alternatives to cope. 

          The first two weeks prior to the quarantine, the child abuse hotline calls were coming in as normal. On March 15, however, there was a drastic decrease in calls, which worried those who work for child protective services, according to USA Today. 

         Adults have also been laid off from their jobs due to many businesses closing, resulting in them needing to stay home as well. Though it may sound like a dream come true, it really is the opposite. 

          Shortly after the quarantine was declared in California, many police forces were anticipating a higher rate of domestic violence calls to be made. Unfortunately, the outcome was the complete opposite. 

           According to Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michael Moore, there have been 10 fewer crime reports on domestic violence everyday and an 18% decrease in incoming calls. 

          Once these quarantine restrictions die down, they are expecting a sudden surge of calls to come in. As of now, we can only hope for the best for these victims of abuse. 

         * If you become suspicious of possible child abuse going on in your neighborhood, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. You never know what happens behind closed doors.