A SURGE in Tasmanian children experiencing stress and trauma is occurring amid increasing parental drug and alcohol misuse and parental mental illness, according to a five-year report.
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The Child Trauma Service Tasmania findings, released this morning, showed that nearly 700 Tasmanian children and young people had engaged with the service since 2009.
The report found all individuals referred to the service experienced emotional abuse, with neglect and family violence figures both above 90 per cent.
More than 90 per cent of the children had parents with drug and alcohol abuse issues, while about 85 per cent had parents living with mental illness.
The latter surged by almost 50 per cent over the five year period.
The Child Trauma Service said it did not have the resources to meet ever-increasing demand.
''There are a substantial proportion of abused children and young people who need the service who cannot access it,'' the report said.
The average age of individuals referred to the service was 9 years, while almost half were between 10 and 14 years old.
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