When you clap for our carers #ClapForOurCarers on Thursday at 8pm, please think of our fantastic support line team, who will be taking calls until 9pm. We provide a vital service for survivors. If you are struggling, we are here for you. Support line 0808 801 0331
Many of the people calling our support line tell us they suffer from flashbacks, dissociation and poor sleep and this impacts their day to day life. Much of the popular understanding of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) comes as a result of media depictions, which show visual flashbacks and hallucinations of the incident. But complex PTSD as a result of trauma in childhood doesn’t often manifest in this way. Researcher Claire Cunnington at the University of Sheffield has written us a guest blog about complex PTSD and childhood trauma.
Everyone feels anxious when there is a lot of uncertainty. If you suffered abuse in childhood you might be finding things especially difficult while coronavirus (COVID-19) is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. We’ll be sharing lots of useful information on self-care here on our blog and on social media
Operation Bullfinch has highlighted the importance of police respecting and valuing the reports of victims of abuse who are able to come forward to speak about what happened to them.
It is very disappointing that the HMIC goes on to recommend an end to automatic belief by police as a victim discloses their account to them. There is significant risk that this will be heard by survivors as police ‘automatically not believing’ allegations.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is looking for volunteers (aged 18 to 74) who experienced abuse in childhood to help with research to decide whether the Crime Survey for England and Wales would be suitable as an online survey. They would like to hear your views on the nature of the questions the Crime Survey asks and other aspects of its design. Please complete the ONS questionnaire if you are interested by 13 March 2020.
Operation Hydrant has published outcomes resulting from the police investigations. These demonstrate why investment in investigating non-recent child abuse is so vital.
Survivors should feel reassured that it is worth going to the police if they wish to, however long ago their abuse took place.
British Society for Mental Health & Deafness @bsmhdeaf and NAPAC are working together to develop training for counsellors and therapists who work with adult survivors of childhood abuse who are Deaf. Find out more about NAPAC’s e-learning courses https://napac.org.uk/training/ #itsnotok2020
NAPAC has welcomed the decision by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to publish its first ever report solely about child abuse. We hope this new ONS source of evidence will over time help to support the development of services to meet adult survivors’ needs, such as support groups and the development of trauma-informed services.
Donate to NAPAC’s first Christmas campaign Over the next six weeks we will be sharing stories to celebrate the hope and hard work that makes our support groups unique and
Call us on 0808 801 0331 for free from landlines and mobiles from 10am-9pm Mon-Thu & 10am-6pm Fri. Calls will not show on your bill.
The National Association For People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) © is a Registered Charity in England and Wales.
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