The Royal College of Psychiatrists has issued a public apology over what it describes as decades of failures in the way adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse have been treated within NHS mental health services. In a report shared with the BBC, senior psychiatrists acknowledged that many survivors have experienced misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment and, in some cases, further trauma when seeking professional help.
A public apology
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has accepted that mental health professionals have placed too much emphasis on treating symptoms without fully exploring the underlying trauma that may be driving those difficulties.
Dr Lade Smith, the College’s immediate past president and author of the report, told the BBC that many survivors had suffered “avoidable harm” while seeking support. The report found that some survivors were repeatedly required to recount traumatic experiences during assessments, were not always believed when disclosing abuse, or were offered treatment that did not adequately address their needs.
According to the College, these failings are not solely attributable to individual clinicians but reflect wider structural problems within mental health services, including fragmented care pathways and long waiting lists.
The lasting impact
Research consistently demonstrates that childhood sexual abuse can have profound and lifelong consequences. Survivors may experience:
- Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD)
- Anxiety and depression
- Eating disorders
- Self-harming behaviours
- Suicidal ideation
- Alcohol and substance misuse
- Difficulties with relationships and trust
The Royal College’s report notes that nearly one in ten adults in England and Wales are estimated to have experienced sexual abuse during childhood, yet many never disclose what happened to them, and those who do often wait years, or even decades, before seeking support.
At Enable Law, we often hear from survivors that the delay can make accessing support much more difficult, particularly when services are not designed to recognise and respond to non-recent trauma. This can lead to survivors becoming re-traumatised and disengaging with the system through no fault of their own.
Calls for meaningful change
Our specialist Abuse team echo and welcome the series of reforms recommended by the College, each aimed at improving support for adult survivors of child sexual abuse. These include:
- Greater trauma-informed training for mental health professionals
- Improved guidance on responding to disclosures of non-recent abuse
- Better access to specialist services
- Longer-term therapeutic support
These recommendations reflect growing recognition that recovery from childhood sexual abuse is rarely linear and is often a long-term process that cannot always be addressed through short-term interventions alone.
Supporting survivors
At Enable Law, our specialist Abuse Team supports survivors of childhood sexual abuse with sensitivity and understanding. We recognise that every survivor’s experience is different and that taking legal advice can feel daunting.
Our team has extensive experience helping survivors seek answers and accountability from organisations that failed to protect them. We work closely with survivors at a pace that feels right for them, ensuring they are supported throughout the legal process.
If you have been affected by childhood sexual abuse and would like confidential advice about your options, our team is here to help. You can contact us on 0800 044 8488 or fill in the form and a member of our team will call you back at a time that suits you.
