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Sexually Abused Children Suffering Mental Health Problems
Through Lack of Therapy

Press Releases: 20th July 2009

A huge shortfall in therapy is leaving thousands of sexually abused children struggling to recover from their ordeal, a new NSPCC report reveals.

Each year at least 55,000 sex abuse victims face behavioural and mental health problems because of a post-code lottery in therapeutic services.

There is only one support programme for every 25,000 children living in the UK and many areas provide no therapeutic provision for sexually abused children at all.

The 508 services identified in the report are so over-stretched that many are being forced to close their books. And those children and teenagers who get treatment often have to wait between three months and a year for this to begin.

The report* reveals that teenagers are especially likely to miss out on therapy because they are less able to access services for adults and may be considered too old to get support on a child protection plan.

Eleven percent of young adults report experiences of physical sexual abuse during their childhoods (1). The report's authors say the number of treatment spaces would have to grow fourfold to cope with the estimated numbers of sexually abused children and young people seeking support at any one time (2).

Debbie Allnock, who led the research and is based at the NSPCC's Fresh Start in London, said: "Sexual abuse can have devastating consequences for a child but it remains a low priority within mainstream mental health services and among local authorities. Yet experiences of sexual abuse are common among people with severe long-term behavioural, criminal and addiction problems.

"Long waiting lists mean that if a young person is sexually abused they often don't get the therapeutic help they need unless they also have a child protection plan. It takes bravery for a young person to tell someone about their sexual abuse and ask for help. But their suffering may only get noticed when they show significant signs of distress, anguish or damaging behaviours. They may then have a long wait for the support they desperately need."

Sexually abused children often need many months of therapy to help them overcome the impact of their abuse - 'quick fix' solutions are rarely enough. Yet the report, funded by the Private Equity Foundation, found that therapeutic programmes often risk being cut short due to lack of resources.

Debbie Allnock continued: "It is vital that effective specialist support is readily available when children want it, for as long as they want it. This helps reduce their psychological injury and enables them to lead more fulfilled lives. The severe lack of services across the UK is a serious problem that needs huge investment."

This pioneering research has identified for the first time the scale of the problem across the UK. But to ensure there is an accurate local picture the NSPCC is urging all Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to track the number of sexually abused children who receive therapy.

This will help the government identify gaps in services and provide help for sexually abused children who might otherwise slip through the net.

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