AUSTRALIA
The Age
November 14, 2012
Kate Hagan
SPEAKING publicly about their experience of childhood sexual abuse is likely to provide healing for many victims, experts say.
Clinical and forensic psychologist Lyn Shumack said the royal commission could provide validation for victims who felt strong enough to tell their stories.
”Feeling violated makes you feel shameful, and it’s shame that allows [abusers] to get away with this sort of behaviour because [victims] keep quiet. So it’s a freeing thing to be able to talk about it,” she said.
Monash University emeritus professor of forensic psychiatry Paul Mullen said giving evidence would be a mostly positive experience for victims motivated by a desire to stop others from suffering abuse in future.
”For some people a royal commission might rekindle some memories, but in a context one hopes will be reassuring,” he said.
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