Some More Facts

The following facts are statistics about children who have been abused in their childhood.

• One in 9 girls and 1 in 53 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault at the hands of an adult.

• 82% of all victims under 18 are female.

• Females ages 16-19 are 4 times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.

These victims are...

• About 4 times more likely to develop symptoms of drug abuse

• About 4 times more likely to experience PTSD as adults

• About 3 times more likely to experience a major depressive episode as adults

Lasting effects

Abuse experienced during childhood can have lasting effects on teens later in life. Abuse often manifests itself as depression, anxiety and other mental health issues, which could lead to a variety of difficulties for teen victims throughout their teenage years and beyond. Signs of abuse-related trauma may include avoidance behaviors such as avoiding social situations or isolating oneself from friends; feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or guilt; difficulty sleeping due to nightmares about the event(s); flashbacks; frequent displays of anger either towards themselves or others around them; substance use disorder (SUD) that is used to cope with pain associated with the experiences they had endured previously in their lives.

The repercussions from experiencing childhood abuse can be devastating if not addressed properly early on by professionals who specialize in this form of therapy. Teens need access to professional counseling services that are tailored specifically for individuals who have been through such traumatic events like physical violence at an early age because these specialized treatments are designed not only address individual symptoms but also provide long term support systems so those affected will know how best manage their emotions related to past traumas while working toward healthy relationships within family settings and communities overall once again feeling safe enough do everyday activities without fear being triggered back into painful memories.

It's important that parents and their teenage peers become aware of potential warning signs when it comes helping teenagers process any lingering impacts resulting from prior abusive circumstances has occurred during earlier stages development order protect children future harm prevent further psychological damage adolescents might suffer should remain untreated left unchecked too long time frame allotted before issue reaches critical mass point where intervention becomes necessary crucial step providing much needed care assistance young person requires otherwise progression negative outcome far worse than expected possible.