Behaviour can help identify sexual abuse
Sheldon Kennedy screens documentary ‘Swift Current’ at college
Spotting behaviour is a key in identifying the signs of sexual abuse.
Former NHL player, World Junior Hockey Championship gold medallist, Memorial Cup champion and founder of the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre, Kennedy was at Lethbridge College last week for a screening of the documentary “Swift Current.”
The documentary, viewed in a packed room in the Centre for Justice and Human Services, is described as “a devastating portrait of a man who struggles to come to terms with his brutal childhood trauma, and a startling depiction of sexual abuse's long-term impact.”
And Kennedy, best known for his decision to charge his junior hockey coach Graham James with sexual assault for the abuse he suffered over a five-year period while a teenager under the coach’s care, said a person’s actions can be just as much an indicator of abuse as one’s words.
“Kids may not come out and say ‘Hey, this is happening to me.’ But they tell in many ways,” said Kennedy. “They tell by cuts on their arm, dropping out of school or dropping out of sports or by acting out. I think as caretakers of children in our community, whether we’re parents, coaches, teachers or volunteers, we need to be aware. We need to take the time to learn and when we see signs we need to have the confidence to ask questions. A lot of the time sexual assault and sexual abuse is a piece of this. Kids are impacted in many ways, but most of the time the impact and the way that shapes their life is quite consistent. So I think if we understand the signs and we know what to do I think we’ll be able to listen when kids are telling us.”
Following the viewing, Kennedy stood in the centre of the room, microphone in hand, and answered questions from all sides.
“I think it went really well," he said. "I think we had some really great questions and that was the key. I think being able to ask questions, there was a lot of knowledge in the room and that’s impressive. I know in rooms like this and conversations around the issues of child abuse have really shifted over the past 20 years since I learned of this. Today, I thought, was great and it was a great film. They did a great job of putting that together.”
Since his public disclosure in 1996, Kennedy has become a leading advocate for sexual abuse survivors around the world.
“I think it’s important to give back on a day like today. It’s the way we best protect our kids. If you look at how we're talking about today, and who we're talking with, these are young people that are going to be in our community working in a capacity to help kids in families that might be in a dark place. The more we can educate them, the better and safer communities we’re going to have,” he said.
“So for me personally, I think it’s really shifted from ‘telling Sheldon’s story’ to really trying to understand the issues. I had to get to a place and do a lot of work, because to me Sheldon’s story had to be hope and how to get out of it.
“We had to show kids and people that there is a way out and you can become a good person again. Because a lot of times they don’t believe they’re a good person or if they can ever get there. So I have to make my mental well-being and wellness a priority. I do that, which gives me the strength to continue to do this work. But it does take its toll, it is difficult. Hence the reason why it’s important for me to debrief and make sure I’m always aware, not just do it when I’m in a crisis.”