News 07/07/2002

The scars of rape and abuse

Just last week a Yugoslav student killed a Maltese man who, according to the student, tried to molest him sexually. Recently we heard how the courts withheld the name of a priest and his brother who are accused of molesting three sisters. This priest, unbelievably, was a close family friend and had actually married the parents of the children.

The words of clinical psychologist Antoine Schembri Wismayer, who was speaking to MaltaToday, that abuse is relatively common in Malta come as no surprise.

Dr Schembri Wismyer attributes this to low awareness in general of what constitutes abuse, which gives perpetrators easier access to children.

"Thankfully awareness of this issue is growing. However, efforts in this area are hampered by the fact that the law regarding abuse is urgently in need of updating," Dr Schembri Wismayer told this newspaper.

"In the past, services or abused children have been fragmented and lacked proper co-ordination. Recently, however, a co-ordinated multi-agency system of investigative and therapeutic services has been developed, although this still suffers from problems of inadequate resourcing."

Dr Schembri Wismayer dwelt on the tragic consequences of sexual abuse and rape. "Usually rape is an isolated attack and is extremely traumatic. It shatters an individual’s sense of safety and often leads to post-traumatic stress disorders. Some people continue to experience the event in the form of flashbacks. A common reaction to rape is that the victim starts to suffer from a misplaced sense of guilt regarding the attack. Others continue to suffer from extreme anxiety.

"Some victims of rape develop phobias, while others become very wary of putting themselves at risk. Often, victims find themselves faced with a variety of difficulties when trying to form relationships with others. People who have been raped also fall into depression."

The other distinction that Dr Schembri Wismayer drew, apart from isolated rape, is child sexual abuse. "This form of abuse is usually perpetrated by somebody who the child knows and frequently happens over an extended period of time. The Child Protection Service Unit receives between 80 to 100 cases a year. Globally 10 – 20 per cent of children are abused. Given that there are about a hundred thousand children in Malta the official figure probably represents the tip of an iceberg. The short-term effects of sexual abuse include such negative elements as low self-esteem, guilt, anxiety, depression and anger."

Dr Schembri Wismayer explained that child sexual abuse can cause problems with parents and peers. "Similarly, victims of prolonged abuse can have problems with issues such as intimacy, mainly because of the fear of being abused again. This can lead to a fear of speaking."

Other short-term problems arising from sexual abuse are eating disorders, problems with wetting and soiling, flashbacks and nightmares. A child’s behaviour can become inappropriately sexualised.

"In the long term, other problems can manifest themselves," Dr Schembri Wismayer added. "The chances of mental health problems developing over a lifetime are two to three times higher in victims of sexual abuse. Eating disorders might plague the victim, as might depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorders."

The clinical psychologist emphasised that abuse is a serious problem, the consequences of which can be long-lasting.

Dr Schembri Wismayer added, "Therapy can help many people but the degree to which particular individuals benefit depends on a variety of factors. In the majority of cases while the abuse is never forgotten, its destructive effects can often be ameliorated. Some cases will continue to experience difficulties, irrespective of the help they receive."