First and foremost, BELIEVE them!

Children often make disclosures about things that confuse them and make them uncomfortable. One of the most tragic realities is that a child will often tell three or four people before one takes them seriously and takes action.

Because victims are so often told by an abuser that nobody will believe them, or that they are to blame for what has happened, a child may retract their statement or later deny that they told you. Be patient and kind. Victims often say in hindsight that they were at a breaking point when they made a disclosure. What they tell you may be horrifying or seem unbelievable to you, and it is imperative that you remain in control of your facial expressions and tone of voice. In order to protect children from further harm, we must not silence them.

Follow these actions to best serve a child in need:

-Be grateful

-Thank them for coming to you

-Stay Calm and keep listening

-Make a mental note of the date, time, location and circumstances of this disclosure

-Take the child to a place where there are no other children, if possible.

-Do not ask leading questions, you are not conducting an interview.

-Do not make assumptions about what happened, just listen

-Reassure the child that it is not their fault

-Don’t make any promises to the child that you cannot keep

There is no 'right' reaction to have when a child discloses abuse to you. It’s normal to feel several emotions all at once and to feel conflicted. See our resources above for further guidance on your own mental health or seek out some of CWAV’s counselling services.

These are some common responses. Remember, your initial response is not your continued response. There is always an opportunity to create a safer space for the person in need.

Anger

There are a number of reasons you may feel anger; not protecting the survivor, towards the perpetrator, not knowing sooner and being able to help, etc. This response is normal and it is important to find an outlet for your anger.

Anxiety

You may be worried about how to respond to the youth, what this will mean for their lives and yours or you may feel anxious about outside systems coming into your life. Reassurance for survivors is key and remember to look after your own health.

Disbelief

While you may be having a hard time believing what you may have been told, it is really important to try and believe the survivor and acknowledge the plan they have suffered.

Guilt

Feeling guilty about not being able to prevent the abuse and not realizing it was taking place is very normal. Try to focus on helping the survivor more forward now.

Sadness

When you know that someone you care about has been hurt in this way, it is hard not to feel sad, powerless and heartbroken. You might be sad that your loved one has changed because of what happened or you may know that this may impact them for a long time. You may also be sad if you knew the perpetrator and mourn for that relationship that is now lost. Take time to acknowledge these feelings and practice self care to get beyond them.