How to tell someone you were molested as a child

About the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline

Need help?

Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.

How does it work?

When you call 800.656.HOPE (4673), you’ll be routed to a local RAINN affiliate organization based on the first six digits of your phone number. Cell phone callers have the option to enter the ZIP code of their current location to more accurately locate the nearest sexual assault service provider.

Telephone Hotline Terms of Service

How can the hotline help me?

Calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline gives you access to a range of free services including:

Confidential support from a trained staff member
Support finding a local health facility that is trained to care for survivors of sexual assault and offers services like sexual assault forensic exams
Someone to help you talk through what happened
Local resources that can assist with your next steps toward healing and recovery
Referrals for long term support in your area
Information about the laws in your community
Basic information about medical concerns

Is it confidential?

The National Sexual Assault Hotline is a safe, confidential service. When you call the hotline, only the first six numbers of the phone number are used to route the call, and your complete phone number is never stored in our system. Most states do have laws that require local staff to contact authorities in certain situations, like if there is a child or vulnerable adult who is in danger.

While almost all callers are connected directly to a staff member or volunteer at a local sexual assault service provider, a handful of providers use an answering service after daytime business hours. This service helps manage the flow of calls. If all staff members are busy, you may choose to leave a phone number with the answering service. In this case, the number will be confidential and will be given directly to the organization’s staff member for a callback. If you reach an answering service, you can try calling back after some time has passed, or you can choose to call during regular business hours when more staff members are available. You can also access 24/7 help online by visiting online. rainn.org.

Who are the sexual assault service providers?

Sexual assault service providers are organizations or agencies dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault. The providers who answer calls placed to the hotline are known as RAINN affiliates. To be part of the National Sexual Assault Hotline, affiliates must agree to uphold RAINN’s confidentiality standards. That means:

Never releasing records or information about the call without the consent of the caller, except when obligated by law
Only making reports to the police or other agencies when the caller consents, unless obligated by law
Agreeing to RAINN’s non-discrimination policy

To learn more about how a provider can become an affiliate of the National Sexual Assault Hotline, visit the Sexual Assault Service Provider information page. Volunteer opportunities for the National Sexual Assault Hotline are coordinated through these local providers. Search for volunteer opportunities near you.

How was the National Sexual Assault Hotline created?

The National Sexual Assault Hotline was the nation’s first decentralized hotline, connecting those in need with help in their local communities. It’s made up of a network of independent sexual assault service providers, vetted by RAINN, who answer calls to a single, nationwide hotline number. Since it was first created in 1994, the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) has helped more than 3 million people affected by sexual violence.

Before the telephone hotline was created, there was no central place where survivors could get help. Local sexual assault services providers were well equipped to handle support services, but the lack of a national hotline meant the issue did not receive as much attention as it should. In response, RAINN developed a unique national hotline system to combine all the advantages of a national organization with all the abilities and expertise of local programs. One nationwide hotline number makes it easier for survivors to be connected with the help they deserve.

Anyone affected by sexual assault, whether it happened to you or someone you care about, can find support on the National Sexual Assault Hotline. You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat.

Types of Sexual Violence | RAINN

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Sexual assault can take many different forms and be defined in different ways, but one thing remains the same: it’s never the victim’s fault.

When a perpetrator intentionally harms a minor physically, psychologically, sexually, or by acts of neglect, the crime is known as child abuse.

Men and boys who have been sexually assaulted or abused may also face some additional challenges because of social attitudes and stereotypes about men and masculinity.

A perpetrator can have any relationship to a victim, and that includes the role of an intimate partner.

Regardless of how the law defines incest, unwanted sexual contact from a family member can have a lasting effect on the survivor.

In cases of drug-facilitated sexual assault, survivors often blame themselves. Remember—you are not to blame. You are the only one allowed to make choices for your body. Using drugs or alcohol is never an excuse for assault and does not mean that it was your fault.

Sexual Harassment - You should be able to feel comfortable in your place of work or learning. If you are being sexually harassed, you can report it to the authorities at your job, school, or local law enforcement.
Stalking - Learn more about stalking behaviors to help you notice them before they escalate—and take steps to protect yourself.
Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse - Many perpetrators of sexual abuse are in a position of trust or responsible for the child’s care, such as a family member, teacher, clergy member, coach, or other children such as older siblings.
Using Technology to Hurt Others - Some people use technology, such as digital photos, videos, apps, and social media, to engage in harassing, unsolicited, or non-consensual sexual interactions.
Sexual Abuse by Medical Professionals - When you go to the doctor, dentist, hospital or physical therapist, or see other medical professionals, you trust them to treat you with respect as they care for your health.
Sexual Exploitation by Helping Professionals - Sexual exploitation by a helping professional is a serious violation of your trust and, in many cases, the law.

Multiple-Perpetrator Sexual Assault - Multiple-perpetrator sexual assault, sometimes called gang rape, occurs when two or more perpetrators act together to sexually assault the same victim.
Elder Abuse - As the number of older adults in America increases, it will become all the more important to be aware of the warning signs of elder abuse.
Sexual Abuse of People with Disabilities - Consent is crucial when any person engages in sexual activity, but it plays an even bigger, and more complicated role when someone has a disability.
Prisoner Rape - If you’re an inmate, a former inmate, or know an inmate who survived sexual assault while in prison, there are resources available to you.
Military Sexual Trauma - Military Sexual Trauma, or MST, is the term used by the Department of Veteran Affairs to describe the effects of sexual violence experienced by a military Service member.
Legal Role of Consent - The legal definitions for terms like rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse vary from state to state. Consent often plays an important role in determining whether an act is legally considered a crime.

RAINN has given me the courage and strength to stand up for what is right. Julianna, survivor

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Child abuse

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Child abuse

WHO/S. Becker

\r\n

Magnitude of the problem

\r\n

\r\nChild maltreatment is a global problem with serious life-long consequences. Although studies have recently been carried out in some low- and middle-income countries, much data is still lacking.

\r\n

\r\nChild maltreatment is a complex and difficult issue to study. Available estimates vary widely depending on the country and the research method used. Grades depend on the following aspects:

\r\n

applicable definitions of child abuse;\t
type of child abuse being studied;
statistical coverage and quality of official statistics;
coverage and quality of surveys that require reports from victims themselves, parents or caregivers.

\r\n

\r\nHowever, international studies show that one quarter of all adults were physically abused as children, and that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 13 men were sexually abused as children. abuse. In addition, many children are victims of emotional (psychological) abuse and neglect. nine0285

\r\n

\r\nAn estimated 41,000 murders of children under the age of 15 occur each year. This figure underestimates the true extent of the problem, as a significant proportion of child abuse deaths are incorrectly attributed to falls, burns, drowning, and other causes.

\r\n

\r\nIn armed conflict and refugee camps, girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, exploitation and abuse by the military, security forces, other members of their communities, humanitarian workers and others. nine0285

\r\n

Consequences of child abuse

\r\n

\r\nChild abuse hurts children and families and can have long-term consequences. Abuse leads to stress, which is associated with impaired early brain development. Extreme stress can disrupt the development of the nervous and immune systems. As a result, in adulthood, people who were abused as children are at increased risk of behavioral and physical and mental health problems, such as:

\r\n

committing or being a victim of violence;\t
depression;
smoking;
obesity;\r\n
high risk sexual behavior;
unplanned pregnancy;
Harmful use of alcohol and drugs.

\r\n

\r\nAs a result of these behavioral and mental health consequences, abuse can lead to heart disease, cancer, suicide, and sexually transmitted infections. nine0285

\r\n

\r\nIn addition to the health and societal impacts, child abuse also has economic impacts, including hospitalization costs, mental health care, child care, and long-term health costs.

\r\n

Risk factors

\r\n

\r\nRisk factors for child abuse have been identified. These risk factors are not present in all social and cultural settings, but they give a general idea when trying to understand the causes of child abuse. nine0285

\r\n

Child

\r\n

\r\nIt is important to emphasize that children are victims and should never be blamed for abuse. Some individual characteristics of a child may increase the likelihood of abuse:

\r\n

child under 4 years of age or adolescent;\r\n
unwanted or not living up to parental expectations child;
a child who has special needs, who cries constantly, or who has abnormal physical features. nine0005 \r\n

\r\n

Parents or caregivers

\r\n

\r\nSome characteristics of parents or caregivers may increase the risk of child abuse. Among them are the following:

\r\n

difficulties associated with the newborn;\r\n
leaving the child unattended;
childhood abuse;
ignorance of child development or unrealistic expectations; nine0005 \r\n
harmful use of alcohol or drugs, including during pregnancy;
involvement in criminal activity; experiencing financial difficulties friends and peers may increase the risk of child abuse, for example:

\r\n
- problems in the field of physical or mental health or development of any family member;\r\n
- discord in the family or violence between other family members;
- isolation from the community or lack of a supportive circle;
- lack of support in raising a child from other family members.
\r\n

Community and social factors

\r\n

\r\nA number of characteristics of individual communities and communities can increase the risk of child abuse. They include:

\r\n
- gender and social inequality;
- lack of adequate housing or family support services and institutions;
- high rates of unemployment and poverty;
- easy access to alcohol and drugs;
- inadequate policies and programs to prevent child abuse, child pornography, child prostitution and child labor;\r\n
- social and cultural norms that support or glorify violence against others, favor the use of corporal punishment, require rigid gender roles, or diminish the status of the child in parent-child relationships;
- social, economic, health and educational policies that lead to poor living standards or socioeconomic inequality or instability.
\r\n

Prevention

\r\n

\r\nChild maltreatment prevention requires a multisectoral approach. Effective programs are those that support parents and instill positive parenting skills. These include:

\r\n
- nurse home visits to parents and children for support, education and information;\r\n
- parent education, usually in groups, to improve skills raising children, increasing knowledge about child development and encouraging strategies for positively dealing with children; and
- multi-component activities, usually including parent support and education, early childhood education and childcare.
\r\n

\r\nOther prevention programs are also promising in some respects.

\r\n
- Abuse Head Injury Prevention Programs (also called Shaken Baby Syndrome and Inflicted Traumatic Brain Injury). These are usually hospital-level programs targeting young parents prior to their discharge, educating them about the dangers of shaken baby syndrome and recommending interventions for inconsolably crying babies. nine0005 \r\n
- Child sexual abuse prevention programs. They are usually held in schools and teach children about the following areas:
\r\n

\r\nSuch programs are effective in enhancing protective factors against child sexual abuse (for example, knowledge about sexual abuse and protective behaviors), but data on whether such programs contribute to the reduction of other types of violence are not available.

\r\n

\r\nThe earlier in a child's life such activities are carried out, the more beneficial they are for the child (e. g. cognitive development, behavioral and social competence, educational training) and society (e.g. reduced delinquency) and crimes). nine0285
\r\n

\r\nIn addition, early recognition of cases, combined with ongoing care for child victims of abuse and their families, can help reduce re-abuse and its consequences.

\r\n

\r\nFor maximum impact, prevention and care interventions are recommended by WHO as part of a four-pronged public health approach:

\r\n
- identifying the problem;\r\n
- identifying causes and risk factors;
- development and testing of measures aimed at minimizing risk factors;
- disseminate information on the effectiveness of interventions and scale up proven effective interventions.\r\n
\r\n

WHO activities

\r\n

\r\nWHO in collaboration with a number of partners in the following areas:

\r\n
- provides evidence-based technical and normative guidance on child maltreatment prevention;\r\n
- calls for greater international support for child maltreatment prevention evidence-based children and investment in this area;
- provides technical support for evidence-based child abuse prevention programs in certain low- and middle-income countries. nine0005 \r\n
","datePublished":"2022-09-19T19:00:00.0000000+00:00","image":"https://cdn.who.int/media/images/default- source/imported/children-running-jpg.jpg?sfvrsn=50512cc9_2","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"World Health Organization: WHO","logo":{"@ type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.who.int/Images/SchemaOrg/schemaOrgLogo.jpg","width":250,"height":60}},"dateModified":" 2022-09-19T19:00:00.0000000+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":"https://www.who.int/ru/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-maltreatment","@context ":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article"}; nine0285
Key facts
- One in 5 women and 1 in 13 men report being sexually abused as children.
- The consequences of child maltreatment include lifelong physical and mental health damage, and its social and professional consequences can ultimately slow down the economic and social development of a country.
- Child maltreatment can be prevented - this requires a multisectoral approach. nine0005
- Effective prevention programs can support parents and teach them positive parenting skills.
- Continued care for children and families can help reduce the risk of re-abuse and minimize its consequences.
Child abuse is the mistreatment and neglect of children under the age of 18. It covers all types of physical and/or emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, neglect and commercial or other exploitation that results in actual or potential harm to the health, survival, development or dignity of the child in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power. . Intimate partner violence is also sometimes considered a form of child abuse. nine0285
Magnitude of the problem

Child abuse is a global problem with serious lifelong consequences. Although studies have recently been carried out in some low- and middle-income countries, much data is still lacking.

Child abuse is a complex and difficult issue to study. Available estimates vary widely depending on the country and the research method used. Grades depend on the following aspects:
- applicable definitions of child abuse;
- type of child abuse being studied;
- coverage and quality of official statistics;
- coverage and quality of surveys that require reports from victims themselves, parents or caregivers.
However, international studies show that one quarter of all adults were physically abused as children, and that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 13 men were sexually abused as children. In addition, many children are victims of emotional (psychological) abuse and neglect. nine0285
An estimated 41,000 murders of children under the age of 15 occur each year. This figure underestimates the true extent of the problem, as a significant proportion of child abuse deaths are incorrectly attributed to falls, burns, drowning, and other causes.

In armed conflict and refugee camps, girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, exploitation and abuse by the military, security forces, other members of their communities, humanitarian workers and others. nine0285
Consequences of abuse

Child abuse causes suffering to children and families and can have long-term consequences. Abuse leads to stress, which is associated with impaired early brain development. Extreme stress can disrupt the development of the nervous and immune systems. As a result, in adulthood, people who were abused as children are at increased risk of behavioral and physical and mental health problems, such as:
- committing violence or becoming a victim of violence;
- depression;
- smoking;
- obesity;
- high risk sexual behavior;
- unplanned pregnancy;
- harmful use of alcohol and drugs.
As a result of these behavioral and mental health consequences, abuse can lead to heart disease, cancer, suicide, and sexually transmitted infections. nine0285
In addition to health and societal impacts, child maltreatment also has economic impacts, including the cost of hospitalization, mental health treatment, child care, and long-term health costs.

Risk factors

Risk factors for child abuse have been identified. These risk factors are not present in all social and cultural settings, but they give a general idea when trying to understand the causes of child abuse. nine0285
Child

It is important to emphasize that children are victims and should never be blamed for abuse. Certain individual characteristics of a child may increase the likelihood of abuse:
- child under 4 years of age or adolescent;
- an unwanted child or a child that does not live up to the expectations of the parents;
- a child with special needs, constant crying or abnormal physical features.
Parents or caregivers

Certain characteristics of parents or caregivers may increase the risk of child abuse. Among them are the following:
- difficulties associated with the newborn;
- leaving a child unattended;
- childhood abuse;
- ignorance of child development or unrealistic expectations;
- harmful use of alcohol or drugs, including during pregnancy; nine0005
- involvement in criminal activity;
- experiencing financial difficulties.
Relationships

A number of factors in family relationships or between sexual partners, friends and peers can increase the risk of child abuse, for example:
- a family member's physical or mental health or developmental problems;
- discord in the family or violence between other family members; nine0005
- isolation in the community or lack of a support circle;
- lack of support in raising a child from other family members.
Community and social factors

A number of characteristics of individual communities and communities can increase the risk of child abuse. They include:
- gender and social inequality;
- Lack of adequate housing or family support services and institutions; nine0005
- high levels of unemployment and poverty;
- easy access to alcohol and drugs;
- inadequate policies and programs to prevent child abuse, child pornography, child prostitution and child labor;
- social and cultural norms that support or glorify violence against others, favor the use of corporal punishment, require rigid gender roles, or degrade the status of the child in parent-child relationships; nine0005
- social, economic, health and educational policies that lead to poor living standards or socioeconomic inequality or instability.
Prophylaxis

A multisectoral approach is needed to prevent child maltreatment. Effective programs are those that support parents and instill positive parenting skills. These include:
- home visits by nurses to parents and children for support, education and information; nine0005
- Parent education, usually in groups, to improve child-rearing skills, increase knowledge of child development, and encourage positive child-care strategies; and
- multi-component activities, usually including parent support and education, early childhood education and childcare.
Other prevention programs are also promising in some respects.
- Abuse head injury prevention programs (also called shaken baby syndrome and traumatic brain injury). These are usually hospital-level programs targeting young parents prior to their discharge, educating them about the dangers of shaken baby syndrome and recommending interventions for inconsolably crying babies. nine0005
- Child sexual abuse prevention programs. They are usually held in schools and educate children in the following areas:
Such programs are effective in increasing protective factors against child sexual abuse (eg, knowledge about sexual abuse and protective behaviours), but there is no data on whether such programs reduce other types of violence. nine0285
The earlier in a child's life such interventions are, the more beneficial they are for the child (eg cognitive development, behavioral and social competence, educational training) and society (eg reduction in delinquency and crime).

In addition, early recognition of cases, combined with continued care for child victims of violence and families, can help reduce re-abuse and its consequences. nine0285
For maximum impact, prevention and care interventions are recommended by WHO as part of a four-step public health approach:
- problem definition;
- determination of causes and risk factors;
- development and testing of measures aimed at minimizing risk factors;
- disseminate information on the effectiveness of interventions and scale up proven effective interventions. nine0005
WHO activities

WHO is collaborating with a number of partners in the following areas:
- provides evidence-based technical and normative guidance on child maltreatment prevention;
- calls for increased international support for and investment in evidence-based child abuse prevention;
- provides technical support for evidence-based child abuse prevention programs in selected low- and middle-income countries. nine0005
Consequences and manifestations of sexual abuse experienced in childhood.
News. Developments. Charitable foundation "Volunteers to help orphans".
What to look for and how to help a foster child

On February 13, the Volunteers to Help Orphans Charitable Foundation will hold an online seminar for foster parents “Consequences of violence and abuse: how to see, accept and help a child.” We asked psychologist Anna Solovieva, the workshop leader, to talk about how to understand that an adopted child has experienced sexual abuse. nine0370
A child who lived in an institution can have different traumas, which is why it can be so difficult to determine whether his emotional manifestations and behavior are connected with the fact that he experienced sexual abuse, or if the cause of his trauma lies in something else.

If adoptive parents notice that the child's behavior has changed dramatically or that he behaves differently than other children at his age, they should seek the help of a psychologist. It can be very difficult to figure out what exactly happened to the child. When a psychologist examines a child, he builds a picture from different details and analyzes why the child, for example, is so sad, does not want to stay in the school locker room with other children, or reacts violently to changes in the environment or smells. nine0285
It often happens that only in a foster family a child with orphan experience begins to talk about what happened to him. Because only the adoptive parents paid attention to his behavior and were worried about his condition: neither in the orphanage, nor in the birth family, they simply did not notice this or did not attach any importance to it.

If a mother has experienced sexual abuse in her childhood, she may not see that the same thing happened to her child. She herself has not worked through the trauma and subconsciously removes herself from any traumatic information, not noticing, for example, that her partner is sexually using her child. nine0285

“Usually blood parents are just the people who can comfort the child, protect him,” explains Anna Solovyova. “But we come across children who did not have such parents, and they are only taken care of in a foster family.”

How the trauma of sexual abuse can manifest itself in children 4-5 years old

• Young children often act out their traumatic experiences. It is easier for a child to talk about it in the language that is natural for his age. For example, on dolls. Or he can show his experience in playing with other children. nine0285
• It is easier for a child to explain what happened to him/her without words. For example, he may show that he is in pain, or point out someone with whom he is afraid to be alone.

• The child may avoid touching him in any way and be afraid if someone tries to wash him. But it may be related to more than just sexual abuse. In the institution, the child could be roughly washed and done in front of other children. Or he may have a fear of water due to the fact that he could once be scalded in the shower.

“There are a lot of nuances,” says the psychologist. “If there was one method that would allow us to determine whether there was violence and what kind, then all the criminals would already be punished.”

But there is also a very characteristic manifestation: if a child of four or five years old begins to imitate adult sexual relations, one must seriously think about how he knows this and whether the transferred sexual violence is hidden behind this.

“Unfortunately, it happens that a child may like being stroked in intimate places and showing attention to him. Then the child can ask other adults, for example, adoptive parents, to do the same, the psychologist continues. “A child could be forced to undress and show his genitals for some kind of reward, and he may try to behave the same way in a foster family.” nine0285
How the trauma of sexual abuse can manifest itself in adolescents

Teenagers who have experienced sexual abuse find it very difficult to trust adults. I have repeatedly come across that sometimes at this age it is easier for a child to talk about what happened not with his parents, but with other significant adults. For example, with a teacher who can tell an incident that happened to him or someone from his acquaintances. At this moment, the teenager realizes that he is not alone, that there is an adult who knows what he is facing and how to deal with this problem. It can be hard for his parents to tell him. Such topics are rarely discussed in families, and a teenager may feel shame and fear that he will be told that he is to blame for everything. nine0285
• If a child experiences sudden changes, this may indicate recent abuse. For example, a child was an excellent student, and then abruptly stopped studying, was open, and then suddenly became withdrawn, began to retire in order to cry, but does not talk about the reasons. Again, this may not always be related to sexual abuse, it could be some other trauma as well.

• Sometimes the child can be as if "frozen": hovering and staring at one point.

• Self-harm is the desire to reduce inner pain, and self-mutilation can be a manifestation of past trauma. It will not necessarily be associated with sexual violence, but in this situation, since there is a high risk of suicide, one should in any case consult with specialists. nine0285
“You should always consider the manifestations of a child in a complex and try to separate one from the other,” the psychologist clarifies once again.

Consequences of childhood abuse

• Childhood sexual abuse can cause a person to avoid and fear all sexual contact. It will be difficult for him to build trusting relationships with people. He may not be able to start his own family.

• But it can also be the other way around. An adult survivor of sexual abuse may choose to partner with someone who resembles the person who sexually abused him as a child. nine0285
• A person who was sexually abused as a child may feel that his body does not belong to him and that anyone can do anything with it.
Learn more