#ItsNotOK - Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week 7th - 13th February 2022

This week is Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week 7th - 13th February 2022. There is a twitter #tag #ItsNotOK to track the week on Twitter. It is also #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek. Sadly there are far too many children who are suffering mental health issues due to sexual abuse and too many adults suffering legacy issues caused by abusers.

Sadly, this blog is aware of the suffering caused to several of our friends by these issues. Sexual predators are often very narcisistic and controlling personalities who carefully select victims who they think they can control and who will not expose them. One friends eldest child killed themself in their 20's, having only recently revealed historic abuse from when they were seven years old. The demons were too much. Of course abusers do not care. Many deviously manipulate themselves into positions of trust, some as teachers, some as people serving roles of trust in the community, with access to young people. The mechnism we have to protect young people is the DBS disclosure system and the sex offenders register. This only works when people are caught. This is why it is vital that we help and support ALL victims to report abusers.

Many adults also suffer abuse, often at the hands of abusive partners, sadly both grown women and men are not immune to the problem. The most powerful weapon abusers have is the lie that they perpetuate, that no one will believe the victims. That is why it is vital that we believe victims and give them as much support as we can. It is vital that they report abuse to police and it is vital that the police take the claims seriously.

This is why I am supporting #Itsnotok and will be retweeting and sharing their posts. If you want to find out more, check this website out https://sexualabuseandsexualviolenceawarenessweek.org/