Moving forward : exploring the mental health challenges faced by adult survivors of child abuse, from a professional perspective

Abstract

Adult survivors of child abuse (CA) have a high probability of facing negative long term effects, including the development of mental health challenges. These adult survivors of CA who face mental health challenges are a significant client group that social workers and other professionals are likely to work with at a points in their career. This qualitative study explores the mental health challenges that adult survivors face in Malta; by accessing the experiences of social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists who have worked with them. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals working at Mount Carmel Hospital (MCH) which offers in-patient mental health services in Malta. Three interviews were conducted with social workers within MCH, another three interviews were conducted with MCH psychologists, and another two with MCH psychiatrists. The findings suggest a link between adult survivors of CA and mental health challenges. Different factors play an integral part in how prone one might be to develop mental health issues. Protective factors are beneficial if used for a certain period of time, but excessive use of such factors may cause more harm than benefit. The findings also highlight how certain negative long-term effects that stem from CA can all contribute to, and increase the risk for CA survivors to suffer from mental health issues. Different types of mental health challenges associated with adult survivors of CA were also explored. Furthermore, findings with regards to the most effective approaches and techniques when working with such a client group revealed that it mainly depends on the individual and their needs, whilst also considering the professional’s limitations with regards to their specialism and role. Finally, reference was also made to the professional aspect which included second-hand trauma and professional self-care. The researcher recommended the development of a specialised service or professionals specialising in providing services to the aforementioned client group, enhancing professional self-care, earlier interventions and support with regards to child abuse, as well as to increase awareness of how seriously damaging CA can be.