Sexual Abuse is an act of using violence to attack someone who is perceived as weak to derive sex. There are different forms of sexual Abuse which include; child abuse, groping, rape which could be vaginal or oral penetration, or the torture of the person in a sexual manner.
Sexual Abuse at an early age and its effect
As we know, sexual Abuse happens to girls and women at the adult stage of their lives. It Shou also be notable that children are also sexually violated at quite an early age which is clearly an offense in Nigeria under the extant law of Nigeria particularly in several sections of chapter 21 of the country’s criminal code. Anyone below the age of eighteen(18) is considered to be a child. According to a report by UNICEF in 2015, one in four girls and one in ten boys in Nigeria had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18.
Victims of Sexual Abuse at an early age tend to suffer from depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self_loathe and sexual problems as well as relationship issues later in life. One of the most common effects is depression which entails them feeling guilty, having the idea of committing Suicide, feeling worthless and scared sometimes. Invariably someone who was sexually abused at an early age suffers from mental disorders, how then can we offer mental support to this kind of victim?
One of the ways to support a child or teenager who has been sexually abused is to first seek professional support for the victim. A professional like a psychologist should be specialized in working with children who have been sexually abused in order to easily relate and understand the victim.
Another way they can be supported is through the family of the victim. The family is inarguable shares a strong bond and when a young person in the family is Sexually abused the family is the first people that the victim will have contact with so the family is encouraged to be with the victim by always issuing words of encouragement, stay around them to avoid them from experiencing anxiety. They can also assure them that they are willing to listen to the victim anytime he or she is willing to talk, but do not force them until they are ready.
Conclusion
Sexual Abuse does not just happen to adults but children as well and most people who experienced sexual abuse at an early age and did not get any form of mental support to grow up with that scar and later affect them in life. That is why it is Paramount to give mental support to any victim from an early age in order to enable the victim to have a good life in the future.
