Child sexual abuse is a deeply concerning issue that has significant implications for the well-being of individuals and societies worldwide.

The prevalence of child sexual abuse varies across regions and populations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, an estimated 18% of girls and 8% of boys experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. Child sexual abuse is often underreported due to various factors, including fear, shame, stigma, and lack of awareness or trust in support systems. It is believed that many cases go unreported, making it challenging to accurately gauge the full extent of the problem.

Child sexual abuse can have profound and long-lasting effects on the mental health and well-being of survivors. Survivors may experience a range of psychological consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulties forming healthy relationships.

Certain factors may increase the risk of child sexual abuse, including family dysfunction, substance abuse within the family, poverty, exposure to violence, and lack of protective factors such as strong social support networks.

Perpetrators of child sexual abuse can be individuals known to the child, such as family members, relatives, caregivers, or trusted adults, as well as strangers. Perpetrators may use coercion, manipulation, threats, or physical force to exploit and victimize children.

In this episode, we discuss the signs, how to prevent, and what to do with expert Joelle Casteix.

Topics discussed in this episode:

- Joelle’s Story [7:00]

- The Increase in Abuse [16:00]

- No Need to Talk About Sex [19:50]

- Surprises and Secrets [23:00]

- A Prevention Community [25:00]

-  The Digital Aspects of Prevention [28:00]

-  Disclosure [40:00]

-  Spirituality [42:00]

-  Best Books for Prevention [46:22]

-  Signs of Abuse [50:20]

- Why Care [52:00]

Quote:

“To help prevent child sexual abuse, teach your children the proper names of their body parts.”

Guest Bio:

Advocate, speaker, and author Joelle Casteix knows the statistics and experience of sexual abuse all too well. She is a leading global expert, author, and keynote speaker for survivors of child sexual assault and institutional cover-up. With more than two decades of strategic communications experience, Casteix is an expert in child sexual abuse prevention, digital accountability, social media safety, and international online privacy issues.

Since coming forward publicly in 2002 as a survivor of child sexual abuse, Casteix has devoted her career to exposing abuse, advocating on behalf of survivors, and spreading abuse prevention strategies for parents and communities. She is a regular speaker for the National Center for Victims of Crime, the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma, and The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Casteix runs the Worthy Adversary blog, which provides information and commentary on child sexual abuse prevention and exposure and is the host of two podcasts, The UNASKED Podcast and SpotTheLine podcast.

Find out more at: https://www.casteix.com/

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