The NHS is failing people who were sexually abused as children and later seek help for mental health issues, according to senior doctors. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has issued a public apology for what it describes as decades of mismanagement and misdiagnosis in the UK, which for some, has worsened their traumas.
The college's report, given to the BBC, states that mental health staff have been too focused on treating symptoms rather than understanding how past traumatic experiences continue to affect patients. Dr Lade Smith, author and immediate past president of the college, expressed regret that victims have too often suffered "avoidable harm when seeking help."
The report highlights instances of inappropriate treatment, re-traumatisation from repeated assessments, and patients not always being believed. Dr Smith noted that the system is fragmented, providing short episodes of care, which prevents psychiatrists from building relationships with patients for proper support.
The apology follows a rise in people seeking help in the last decade, prompting the college to form a working group of experts, doctors, and abuse survivors. The college is calling for mandatory trauma-informed care training for all mental health staff and national guidance on recognising and responding to disclosures of historic child sex abuse.