The Star Online. News. Central. Wednesday March 28, 2007
THE recent reporting of a traumatised teen in the newspaper has shown that there is an increased awareness of the importance of reporting sexual abuse. The action taken by the older sibling to report a suspected case of molest demonstrates the support a family member can provide to a child who has been through such trauma.
This leads to the importance of looking at the child’s psychological well being after reporting the abuse.
Children who have reported an abuse, in general, sometimes feel that they are guilty of putting someone they know into a difficult position. They may also feel that they have caused a lot of hassle to their own family. As they go through the whole series of investigation and questioning, they might sometimes even doubt their own feelings. Family members can help support by reassuring the child that the abuser is at fault and the investigations are necessary to facilitate upcoming trials in court. And all along, family members have to be sensitive to the child’s feelings of sadness, anger and disappointment.
Let the child take his or her own pace in talking about the abuse and give the child time to sort out his or her feelings and to slowly heal and move on. Talk about the child’s courage in disclosing the abuse and affirm the act.
It will also be worth monitoring the child’s behaviour and feelings - if traumatic experiences are not managed or resolved, it can lead to serious conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. Be aware of the warning signs of these conditions and do seek professional help such as counselling and therapy to support the child in healing.
Lee Kuan Shin
Clinical psychologist
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