“Tens of thousands of children are estimated to be recruited and used by armed groups. In 2019 alone, more than 7,740 children, some as young as six, were recruited and used as soldiers around the world, according to the United Nations. Most are recruited by non-state groups.” (Wuilbercq). There are more than seven thousand forty children that were child soldiers in twenty nineteen alone. Many of these children passed away while being in the war but the ones that didn’t could be suffering from PTSD, Drug addiction, and more. Child soldiers are used around the world, from ages seven and up. Many child soldiers after being in war suffer from psychological trauma like PTSD, drug addiction, and physical trauma. History has proven that the use of …show more content…
In the memoir, A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah, Ishmael became a child soldier at the age of twelve, after three years of being in the war Ishmael was discharged from the war and went into rehabilitation. Ishmael was showing signs of PTSD for a long time. In this passage, Beah is showing signs of PTSD by saying “I was afraid to fall asleep, but staying awake also brought back painful memories. Memories I sometimes wish I could wash away, even though I am aware that they are an important of what my life is; who I am now. “ (Beah 19). Typically when people have PTSD they have nightmares, and flashbacks. Ishmael is showing signs of both of these which shows he has PTSD. PTSD can affect people in many ways. Ishmael is showing signs of PTSD so early on in the book by the things he's experienced and seen. With the PTSD he is facing he can’t sleep. Child soldiers experience PTSD in many ways leaving them with this trauma for the rest of their lives. Some may not recover from this mental trauma which can leave them with other mental issues. Children should never have to experience war at such a young age. By banning child soldiers more children can have a childhood without having to have trauma from any war. Children should not have to have PTSD at such a young age and especially by war. Banning child soldiers can help thousands of children around the war from experiencing psychological trauma such as