Asking the Question: Childhood Sexual Abuse in Adults with Mental Illness

ABSTRACT

Enquiry about childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is not routine practice for mental health practitioners undertaking client assessment. This study audited 100 patient charts to determine rates of enquiry and response by mental practitioners around CSA. Fifty-seven mental health staff also completed a subsequent questionnaire exploring factors that influence practice in regard to sexual abuse. Staff lacked confidence in how to ask and effectively respond to sexual abuse disclosure. Mandatory training focusing on trauma informed care could improve staff confidence and capacity to identify and effectively address not only sexual abuse, but childhood trauma and abuse more generally.

探讨儿童性侵害对于承当患者评估的精神健康从业人员不是常规实践。本研究检视了100份患者图表，以确定探讨频率以及实践者的回应。57位精神健康工作人员完成了问卷。这些工作人员对于如何提问、如何有效地回应有关性侵害的陈述不大有把握。着眼于创伤治疗的强制训练可以提高工作人员的信心和能力，使他们发现并有效处理性侵害，还能应付更广泛的儿童创伤及侵害。

KEYWORDS:

• Child Sexual Abuse
• Disclosure
• Mental Health
• Trauma Informed Care
• Professional Practice

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.