1PhD Scholar, Department of Social Work, Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India
2Thesis Advisor and Chairperson, Department of Social Work, Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India
Adolescence is a stage in life for acquiring new skills, attaining mastery over environment, adapting to handle new responsibilities and gaining control over one's emotions and thoughts. It is believed that emotional difficulties may clear up completely only with adequate support. At present abusive and violent behavior by adolescents is increasing due to pressures from various walks of life.
In the case of children who are sexually abused, children as young as 3years of age are the victims. Sexual abuse of school going children is an area that was until recently neglected. The victims continue to be victimized in the process of getting justice. Victim blaming is the norm of most societies. Sexually abused children face many mental and physical problems. In depth study of the child sexual abuse cases and its intervention strategies is the need of hour. The researcher's experience during the last 8 years as a school counsellor in the School Counselling Centre of Psycho Social Service Scheme for Adolescence, Department of Women and Child development, Government of Kerala has made her understand the importance of counselling in schools as the key element to prevent child sexual abuse and provide protection and care to the victims. This case study is from the eight years experience of the researcher as a school counsellor.
The aim of the study was to understand the mental and physical problems undergone by the sexually abused children and the interventions provided by the school counsellor. Sexually abused children face so many physical problems and mental health problems. The researcher understood that they show sleep disturbances, sudden behavioural changes, emotional distress, fear of loneliness, social withdrawal, depression, suicidal tendencies and suicide ideation, anxiety, clinginess, running away and lack of concentration in studies. It was noticed that some abused children wait for over a year to reveal their problems due to fear and shame. School counselling has been of great support to many students who suffer from emotional and physical disturbances, due to sexual abuse.
Adolescents, Sexual abuse, Mental distress, physical distress, school counselling, intervention
