This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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National strategy for sex abuse survivors
19/09/2005
A national strategy for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse is to be introduced by the Executive.
The announcement was made by Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald during a visit to launch Thrive, a project in Glasgow that helps male survivors of sexual abuse.
The national strategy will:
- Ensure there is a coherent and strategic approach to accessing services
- Create a network of professionals and adult survivors
- Commission NHS Education for Scotland to design self-help and public awareness training
- Establish an Adult Survivors fund of £2 million for activities to assist the development of better local service
A reference group comprising adult survivors, professionals, cross party group members and voluntary organisations has been set up to implement the strategy.
Mr Macdonald said:
"I am looking forward to visiting the Thrive project in Glasgow today to meet with staff and counsellors working there and also users of the service. Thrive offers an extremely valuable support to men who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. The multi-disciplinary counselling and support services there help men to talk about the trauma they have been through and deal with these issues."
On the Executive's national strategy for adult services, Mr Macdonald said:
"The strategy was devised in conjuction with survivors to improve access to and quality of services for adult survivors in Scotland. It aims to encourage better joined up working between health, social care, education, community and voluntary organisations.
"A more consistent approach to helping survivors across Scotland will lead to better access to local services. If people can access services and support earlier, this will help aid their recovery and reduce their risk of physical and mental illness and suicidal behaviour.
"We also want to increase public awareness of childhood sexual abuse so people will feel more comfortable disclosing abuse at an earlier stage, and reduce the chance of longer-term damage to both their physical and mental health.
"A Survivors Fund of £2 million will help pay for this work to let people know where they can go to receive help. NHS Education Scotland will play a key role in setting up awareness raising projects. We will also be publishing an information booklet for a range of health professionals to help them better understand the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse."
The Executive currently funds two organisations who work with adult survivors: The Moira Anderson Foundation, a national charity set up in Scotland to assist children and families affected by child sexual abuse and offer support to those who are progressing cases through the legal system, and Men Against Sexual Abuse (MASA), a Glasgow-based group working specifically with male survivors.