Child abuse survivors do not access help for families’ sake

SEXUAL abuse survivors are not accessing the support that they need because they do not want to upset family and loved ones, research has found.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse surveyed 181 victims of child abuse, 73 per cent of whom said they have not accessed any state-run or voluntary support services for their recovery.

A key reason was “familial or community barriers” such as not wanting to upset loved ones, many survivors said, with 84 per cent citing it as a problem, alongside financial issues and long waiting times.

The study also found that for the 27 per cent who have accessed services, the average time between the individual first being abused and finding appropriate support was 19 years.

Fay Maxted, a member of the inquiry’s consultative panel for victims and survivors, said this research should act as a “wake-up call”.

“I can’t overstate the importance of this research,” Ms Maxted said. “The impact of child sexual abuse can affect all aspects of a survivor’s life, often affecting their family members and partners, too – it’s essential that availability and quality of services reflects this.

“Whether someone needs support with seeking justice, the right medical care, or specialist recovery counselling, having the ability and awareness of how to access the services needed is vital.” The research suggested that 43 per cent of survivors felt that they currently had unmet needs linked to their experience of child sexual abuse.

Those with positive experiences of engaging with support services cited factors such as empathy, feeling understood and believed, and not being blamed as being particularly beneficial to them.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was set up in 2015 and has investigated the actions of celebrities, politicians, police, religious groups and schools.

73 per cent Of victims of child sexual abuse have not accessed state-run or voluntary support services to help with their recovery