Child sexual abuse exploits and harms children. Victims often experience feelings of confusion, guilt, shame and anger about what happened to them. Survivors of child sexual abuse relate feeling robbed of their right to a safe and healthy childhood. Children who are sexually abused and who do not tell anyone or don’t receive appropriate help when they do tell, are at far greater risk than the general population for emotional, social and physical problems. These problems can include feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, depression, impaired trust, self-blame, self-destructive behavior, and low self-esteem.

Without appropriate help as children, many individuals can suffer into adulthood with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, substance abuse, relationship problems and further sexual and physical victimization.

If we can prevent child sexual abuse from happening in the first place or identify victims early on, we can significantly change these outcomes.