Juvenile delinquency is at the center of discussions. What is the reason for this aggression, how is it dealt with, what is the role of parents? Two mental health experts, as well as the Children's Commissioner, explain to "F" what triggers these adolescent behaviours and what can help.
The Commissioner for Children, Despo Michaelidou, points out that prevention needs to be strengthened. He disagreed, however, with the intention to influence the conduct of pupils' leaving certificates in the event of delinquency. "It stigmatizes the child for life and deprives him of the right to study," he pointed out.
"Children's aggression and delinquency are not the problem. It is the result", points out the school and clinical psychologist Dr. Iphigenia Stylianou to "F", underlining that the causes of such behaviours must be sought around their experiences and environment. At the same time, he expresses concern about the fact that our minors have stopped thinking, as they let Artificial Intelligence do it for them, resulting in a weakening of their filters and criticism.
For his part, psychiatrist Dr. George Michellidis points out that the causes of juvenile delinquency lie beyond the child's close environment, poverty and hardship, the overtime of parents that result in their absence from home, the dysfunctional boundaries they set, ignorance about technology, impunity.
Juvenile delinquency reflects the existence of deeper social problems and, in no case, concerns problems exclusively of the children themselves, the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights, Despo Michaelidou, points out to "F". "The phenomenon is multifactorial: the marginalization of children and the silence of their voices, domestic violence, the normalization of violence and hate speech, as well as other social factors, such as the excessive and reckless use of technology, which govern today's society and unfortunately affect in a negative way, the mental and physical health of children. At the end of the day, we adults will have to redefine our entire daily behaviour, our obligations as parents regarding the delimitation of our children and our value system," he underlined.
The responsibility of the State, the Commissioner continues, is to emphasize the prevention of the phenomenon and not its suppression. "The prevention and effective treatment of juvenile delinquency is everyone's job: the policeman, the teacher, the social worker, the mental health specialist, the parent. In other words, in addition to the Ministry of Justice, it is the responsibility of all the competent authorities involved (Ministry of Education, Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Health, etc.) but also the responsibility of society, the family and each of us, to listen to the needs of children and to listen to their opinion, for effective treatment".
An important tool, the Commissioner points out, is also the Law on Children in Conflict with the Law, which is a milestone for a child-friendly Justice. It institutionalizes a criminal justice system specifically designed for the needs of these children and which aims, through restorative justice, to reintegrate them into society.
"Especially in relation to schools, I note as positive the adoption of the "National Strategy and the Action Plan 2024-2028", which frame all legislations/policies/actions related to the management of violence within the school context. At the same time, the legal obligation of the school to provide sex education courses from Pre-Primary to High School is certainly a positive development, as through this lesson the teacher is given time and space to discuss and cultivate empathy, self-respect and respect for the body of the other. A powerful tool for preventing the expression of any form of violence.
With regard to the recent demarches of the Minister of Justice, that the examination of cases with minors in the courts is being expedited and that delinquency, even if it takes place outside of school, will be recorded in the student's leaving certificate, the Commissioner expresses a clear position
"The announcement for the acceleration of the examination of such cases is certainly positive and it is in the interest of the children. It is necessary to activate immediately and as soon as possible the provisions of the Children's Conflict Law with the Law, implementing the procedures for restorative Justice, so as not to prolong the child's anguish and suffering, provided of course that the rights of the child are not circumvented, as provided by the relevant Law".
However, as far as the Minister of Justice's suggestion for linking the delinquent behaviour of a child outside the school environment, he disagrees. "Such a measure is both unfair and anti-pedagogical, and anti-legal. I believe that the only competent body for imposing a penalty is the Court of Justice. By referring the child, after passing through criminal proceedings, then to the Disciplinary Council of the school, it is as if he is essentially being tried for a second time. The note on the high school diploma of the offence for which he was convicted and the reduction of conduct contradict the spirit and purpose of the Law. It stigmatizes the child for life and deprives him of the right to study, restricts his professional rehabilitation and punishes him for an act for which a similar penalty or measures had already been imposed on him."
Iphigenia Stylianou: Aggression, delinquency is not a problem. It is a result. As soon as we see it as a problem, we lost the game
The increase in juvenile delinquency is also confirmed by research, underlines the school and clinical psychologist, Dr. Iphigenia Stylianou, and adds: "The key to dealing with it lies behind the question 'what is happening to this child?'. Behind every story of juvenile delinquency, there is an experience of the child, the parents, the school, the friends, the disappointments. It is good to look for the factors of delinquency close to the person," he pointed out.
Important, he says, is the fact that we are in a society of impunity. That is, children from a very, very early age receive the message that if I do something wrong, "it is very likely that I will not be punished. Not to have any consequences.'"
It is important, says Dr. Stylianou, to examine what opportunities young people have. "That is, if a teenager manifests such aggressive behaviour, what will he be treated by his parents or his school? We are lagging behind in reintegration practices. Even schools, many times, do not know how to manage children who exhibit delinquent behaviour. Of course, this is like depriving them of a second chance."
Particularly important, continues Dr. Stylianou, let's also look at access to school psychologists. If they receive advice, both the children themselves and the parents both inside and outside the school context.
Social media plays a dual role, underlines Dr. Stylianou. On the one hand, they reinforce delinquent behaviours as children are exposed to such images. On the other hand, however, they can contribute to good behaviours through positive messages they promote, such as for rights and physical health. "The problem lies in the fact that children don't know how to filter. To distinguish between the positives and the negatives. Children do not develop critical thinking, which also burdens Artificial Intelligence (AI). It is as if the children have stopped thinking. A lesson has not been included in the school to teach them how to use it properly. The skill of thinking is basic."
Solutions exist for the management of delinquency, underlines Dr. Stylianou. "There are intervention programs. Researchers, that is, science, know what needs to be done, but it is not being followed. Experts go there and talking to schools about delinquency is like a hole in the water."
Important, continues Dr. Stylianou, are preventive programs and intervention actions, from infancy. "That's where social skills are built. From home and from parents. We must not forget: Aggression, delinquency is not a problem. It is a result. As soon as we see it as a problem, we lost the game. It is a result, because there is something behind these behaviours. A child who is oppressed. A child with indifferent parents".
Poverty, overtime and parental mental health problems burden children
Giorgos Michellidis: The treatment must be holistic. "To support families. Parental education should be done
Mapping the delinquent behaviours of children and adolescents, psychiatrist Dr. George Michellidis, mentions a number of causes and factors. "Economic conditions are burdening. That wages have not changed but that life has become more precise. A family makes a living more difficult. It may not provide the basics, which creates tensions and quarrels. Also, in order to make ends meet, someone needs to work up to 12 hours a day. The working parent does not see his family. The child grows up with third parties and at the same time the parent does not have enough contact, but neither does he have the energy and stamina to offer anything else," he pointed out.
Something else, adds Dr. Michellidis, is that we are "a few years after the pandemic. The world was affected and the genes are also affected. We also have an increase in depression and anxiety and mental disorders, which means that there may be behaviours within the family that will affect children," he said.
"We see minors who engage in any delinquent behaviour, which is indeed a worrying phenomenon of society. It is expressed in various ways, even on a criminal level. Such as bullying or physical abuse, theft, drug use, vandalism, gang membership. We find that social norms are not being followed and that laws are being violated. This systematic and repeated delinquency needs serious social and scientific treatment," he said.
First, says Dr. Michellidis, we need to understand the causes of the phenomenon. Such as family dysfunction, neglect, domestic violence, non-existent or very strict boundaries, parental addiction. Of course, socio-economic factors, such as poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, reduced opportunities, racism, also have an impact.
Dr. Mikellides also referred to personal factors. Such as that the child faces issues related to the absence of identity or perspective. Absence of goals or sense of belonging, which often manifests itself as antisocial behaviour. "A child does not have clear goals." That is why he underlined, it is important for a child to participate in activities such as sports or art. "Many times, due to a lack of activities and wrong standards, individuals engage in criminal or delinquent behaviour." At the same time, he underlines that it is also important what standards are projected, shaping or even distorting the moral compass of each person.
The influence of social media is also revealed. We may, as he explains, see phenomena of imitation, that is, a child reproduces something he sees or even applauds it, sending it to his friends. It can be about something "innocent" or even intimidating material. "So he participates in a process of abuse even if he is not a threat himself."
The internet, he continues, has been referred to over time as very beneficial. "We have to see which ages are using them," he said and underlined the responsibility of parents. "There are parents who have no idea, which is sad not to know what your child is doing and is dangerous at the same time. It is not excluded that the parent does not know how to use social networks, that there is a lack of know-how and cannot supervise".
Social media, he also pointed out, offers the anonymity of the mob. "In the mob you can much more easily commit a criminal act, because personal identity is lost, personal responsibility is lost – partly of course. In your mind you get the impression that you won't get anything wrong."
The consequences of delinquent behaviour can be devastating for the child. "The person is stigmatized. Some interrupt education, thus limiting their career prospects."
In juvenile delinquency, Dr. Mikellidis also identifies the social cost. "The citizens' sense of security is missing."
Confrontation
As in any other issue, Dr. Mikellidis, the approach must be holistic. "To support families. Parental education should be carried out, social services should be strengthened. Of course, there is also school prevention. Psychosocial support programs. How we manage our anger, how we strengthen our self-esteem, how we find a way to communicate conflicts, whether in-school, in-school or extracurricular. To see the child in the environment in which he develops and all these environments to be evaluated."
Important, underlines Dr. Mikellidis, are the alternative justice measures. "They are measures instead of punishment, mediation programs, volunteerism, artistic expression. We need to see things collectively and with supervision."
The community can also offer solutions, Dr. Michellidis said, such as the creation of youth, culture and sports structures. "To offer, that is, a way out. If there are no suitable structures, where should a child go? It will end up in a vicious circle of negative situations, which will create psychological or even emotional problems, making it more prone to substance use."
It is also not excluded that family therapy is needed. "It is not enough to try to improve only the child's condition, when the parents are facing an issue that they need to improve, let's say their own mental health. For example, you can't try to fix the child, while the parent continues to beat his mother," he said, adding that in such extreme environments, the issue of guardianship also arises.
