A recent report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has revealed significant shortcomings in Cleveland Police's handling of child abuse cases.

Recent reports have revealed serious concerns about the quality and safety of maternity care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTH) NHS Trust.

Ibrar Hussain, Imtiaz Ahmed and Fayaz Hussain have been found guilty and today sentenced for sexually abusing two young girls more than two decades ago. A further man will be sentenced next month.

On 03 January 2025 Elon Musk criticised the UK government’s handling of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and grooming gangs on his social media platform, X.

Some people feel able to report abuse straight away, while for others, it can take a long time to come to terms with the experience or to see a need to come forward.

Here, we’ve explained some of the most common effects of abuse to help you put your feelings into words. Abuse takes many forms and it’s different for everyone. Still, many of the consequences are the same, especially in terms of the way you feel. If you’re struggling with any of the emotions below, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions experienced by abuse survivors. It might manifest as nervousness in social situations, sudden panic attacks, or persistent worry about worst-case scenarios. These symptoms can ripple into other areas of life, affecting relationships, work, and overall well-being.

Strong connections with loved ones are essential for emotional well-being, but trauma from childhood abuse can create challenges that make building and maintaining relationships difficult.