Long Lasting Effects of Child Sexual Abuse
Sexual assault can affect anyone men, women, and
unfortunately even children. Every year,
an alarmingly high number of children become victims of sexual assault and many
of these children never get the support or assistance they need after such a
traumatic occurrence. In the spirit of
Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we hope to raise awareness on the importance of
educating children, parents, and communities about child sexual abuse
prevention, in hopes that far less children are affected by sexual assault.
Child sexual abuse can be a devastating event in the
life of a child. Many children are
embarrassed, scared, or too confused to come forward with the abuse that has
happened to them. In many cases these
children live the majority of their childhood and perhaps the rest of their
lives without ever telling about the abuse that has happened to them. When a child goes on without disclosing abuse
it can follow them and affect them even into adulthood. According to 1in6, children who experience
sexual abuse are at greater risk of depression, problems in their intimate
relationships, and even suicide. When
children do not get help or support after an assault these problems can face
them as they grow older.
Major League baseball player, R.A. Dickey, recently
shared with 60 Minutes how his experiences with child sexual abuse affected him
much later in life. After experiencing
child sexual abuse as an 8 year old boy, Dickey, kept his abuse a secret for
over 20 years. Eventually, his career
and personal life took a turn for the worse and he even contemplated
suicide. At this point he realized that
the abuse in his past had been affecting him still, and with the help of
therapy he turned his life around.
As with R.A. Dickey, sometimes survivors of child
sexual abuse need support and to realize that someone is there for them. That is why it is so important to raise
awareness about the issue of child sexual abuse and to teach children that it
is ok to speak up if they are being abused, as well as to teach them what
healthy sexuality is. We need to teach
children how to safe but also that if something does happen to them it is okay
to come forward for help, and that there will be people there to support them.
Follow the link to see R.A. Dickey’s interview with
60 Minutes.
Submitted by Sara G.
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