Abuse victim still works to help others
Former NHL player abused by junior coach urges doctors to recognize childhood trauma
Pediatricians from across Canada will hold their annual conference in Vancouver this week and in his keynote address, former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy, will urge doctors to learn more about recognizing and reacting to childhood trauma.
More than 900 pediatricians and other child health professionals are expected to attend the Canadian Paediatric Society’s 94th Annual Conference, May 31-June 3. Kennedy, who has become one of Canada’s most important advocates for violence and abuse prevention and “trauma-informed” treatment programs, will speak Wednesday at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
“I’m excited to have this opportunity to talk to doctors about this. Historically, they’ve received little training in this area and often aren’t equipped on what to do with such patients because suddenly they’re dealing with some scary issues like social welfare agencies and the criminal justice system,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy was sexually abused by his junior hockey coach, Graham James, when he played for the Swift Current Broncos in the 1980s. He disclosed the abuse until 20 years ago.
“Most kids are hurt by people they know and trust. They fear disclosing the information because they’re so confused. They think it must have been their fault somehow. They end up going through life thinking they can never trust again, being very lonely, depressed, suicidal, anxious, living with shame and guilt,” said Kennedy.
At the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre in Calgary, multidisciplinary teams of professionals — police, social workers, psychologists, Crown prosecutors, educators and child and family protection workers — all collaborate. “We wrap around the child,” Kennedy said, “and we recognize that this child will probably need years and years of attention and help.”
A high proportion of mental health and addiction problems like he’s had stem from adverse child experiences, Kennedy said, and health professionals must learn to “change the question from what’s wrong with you to what happened to you?”
Dr. Paul Thiessen, a Vancouver pediatrician who’s on the board of the Canadian Paediatric Society, said he expects Kennedy’s talk will have great impact.
“Pediatricians deal a lot with vulnerable children, with those who’ve suffered neglect and abuse. We wrestle with the kinds of things he talks about,” he said, noting that in another conference session, doctors will learn skills required for interacting with child protective services and providing health care to vulnerable children. Another session called Crying and Yelling At Home is about helping children build resilience.