Child Sexual Abuse

Definition -

Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities, indecent exposure of the genitals to a child, displaying pornography to a child, actual sexual contact against a child, physical contact with the child's genitals viewing of the child's genitalia without physical contact, or using a child to produce child pornography.

Effects –

The effects of child sexual abuse can be very traumatic and long-term. Therefore it is essential to seek help as soon as possible. The Guards should be the first port of call, but then Rape Crisis Midwest so the victim can receive counselling.

Many people who were abused as children keep silent about what has happened to them. They are often too afraid to tell someone at the time. The abuser may have threatened them not to tell or they may tell someone who does not believe them. The abuser may have blamed the survivor, saying that the abuse has happened because the survivor is bad or different, or because they wanted it to happen, and that people would reject or punish the person if they knew about it. As adults, it may still be difficult to trust anyone enough to tell them the full story. Feelings of guilt and shame, terror, depression, fear of being overwhelmed by painful memories that bring it all back and feelings of self-disgust can all prevent people from sharing their pain