Yesterday, November 12, was National Survivors’ Day – a day dedicated to recognising and honouring survivors of trauma and adversity.
This day holds particular significance for children and young people who have endured the profound impact of abuse, sexual abuse, and much hurt within their lives.
As we bring awareness to their stories, we must also amplify the importance of supportive resources, compassionate care, and long-term strategies for their healing and healthy recovery.
This blog explores the unique challenges faced by children and young people impacted by various forms of abuse and outlines the crucial role of individuals and communities, to nurture their resilience and healing.
How trauma and abuse impacts young minds
All forms of abuse and harm have unique effects on development, self-identity, and future relationships.
Children often feel isolated or confused by the hurt and abuse they are exposed to, particularly when it comes from trusted adults, leading to lasting trauma if not addressed early.
Abuse disrupts childhood development, impacting emotional, cognitive, and social growth.
Young people often talk to us about their own worries about their mental health and low self-esteem, leaving them questioning their self-worth, and lacking confidence to share difficulties in forming healthy relationships.
We also see many different forms of trauma responses from young survivors. They talk to us about their struggles with flashbacks, nightmares and hypervigilance that can impact their everyday life.
Young people may also experience difficulties in school, social withdrawal, and behavioural issues as they attempt to process complex emotions related to abuse.
These consequences illustrate why early intervention and appropriate support are essential.
Shona Reid, SA’s Guardian for Children and Young People, told us,
“I am eternally grateful for some of the programs that exist here in South Australia that successfully engage with children and young people and empower them to re-establish their own sense of self-worth.
It is an area that I know children and young people value greatly, but I am constantly bewildered at the lack of investment in this particular area.
Why don’t we invest more in this space…because we know it does work.”
What can you do?
This week, let’s think about the role we can all play in prioritising children and young people’s needs and creating nurturing environments.
How we can validate their feelings with empathy and reinforce messaging that it’s not their fault they have experienced such harms and that we are there to support them through it.
Let’s educate ourselves colleagues and our own family members about the impacts of abuse and how we can prevent further harm and bringing about a more supportive growing environment for children and young people, where they feel seen, heard and safe.
Build Trust and Offering Emotional Support
Young survivors often rely on friends, peers, and educators for support. Here’s how they can help:
- Listening without judgement: offering a non-judgmental space for survivors to express themselves is essential for building trust and encouraging open communication.
- Validating their experiences: simply validating that the survivor’s experience is real and significant can have a profound impact on their emotional well-being.
- Avoiding overexposure to media: encouraging survivors to limit exposure to triggering content or news about abuse can help prevent re-traumatisation.
Promoting Empowerment and Resilience
Empowering young survivors fosters resilience and encourages healing. We can promote resilience by:
- Encouraging participation in activities they love: engaging in hobbies and interests can be therapeutic and help young survivors reconnect with themselves.
- Setting healthy goals: working with survivors to set realistic, healthy goals can help them regain a sense of control over their lives.
- Celebrating small wins: recognising even small achievements can boost confidence and encourage further healing.
As a message to carry following National Survivors’ Day, Shona said:
“The road to recovery is often long and filled with challenges.
As we observe National Survivor Day 2024, it is essential to recognise the resilience of young survivors and to pledge support for their continued healing and growth.
Every child and young person deserves a future free from fear, filled with hope, and brimming with possibility. Through collective efforts, we can create a world where children feel safe, supported, and empowered.”
For more information, please visit the National Survivors’ Day website.
