Training Session: Dealing with Disclosures
of Sexual Abuse

“Sexual abuse is always the offender’s fault” Arlene Vrtar-Huot – LPN, RSW. A Cree woman originally from Saskatchewan, she is currently studying at the University of Victoria, completing her Bachelor of Social Work. Sexual abuse disclosure is a sensitive and potentially devastating undertaking. There are many ways that CHRs can help a person disclosing sexual abuse information and CHRs must continue to learn as much as possible about sexual abuse in their communities. The CHR is likely the first to hear of a sexual abuse disclosure. CHRs are often the frontline or first point of contact for health at the community level. CHRs need to have the skills to deal with the disclosure in a healthy way because it is very important that the person feels safe to reveal what has happened to him/her. Sexually abused children can bring a lot of pain and trauma into adulthood. CHRs deal mostly with adult victims of sexual abuse, so frank discussions on the effects of sexual abuse on children can provide a good learning experience for CHRs on how to deal with a disclosure. Most children are tricked, bribed, manipulated or coerced into sexual abuse. Children do not tell because they have been told or threatened not to reveal what has happened. Children often feel they are to blame for what has happened. They are ashamed and feel that no one would help them. Children usually do not lie about sexual abuse. If one child has been abused, often siblings or other family members are also abused. Sexual abuse can happen in any family of any class, culture, race, or income level. It is always the offender’s fault. In the Aboriginal community, many sexual abuse cases come from residential school experiences where the perpetrator was a non-Aboriginal person and someone who held power over the victim. There are as many male victims as there are female victims. There are more female perpetrators of sexual abuse than we think. Sexual abuse victims suffer from depression, loss and feelings that their childhood was stolen. Many sexual abuse victims become sexual abusers themselves. As a CHR, it is helpful to gain experience in dealing with sexual abuse. CHRs can bring many resources and valuable information to their communities to help heal the pain of sexual abuse disclosure.