Understanding the Mental Health of Child Sexual Abuse Survivors in Real and Reel Life

Abstract

Child sexual abuse is a widespread issue that has social implications for the victims' mental health. The child sexual abuse is a widely spread manifestation of trauma leaving the victims with immense and long-term mental effects. This review paper introduces CSA and how individuals who went through it are psychologically impacted. By looking at a real-world example of how this happens, we get to explore the many struggles and challenges that CSA survivors face, and also highlight the ways in which they manage to cope with the traumatic experiences they have gone through. Furthermore, this review draws attention to both the resonant and possible distortion of CSA in public discourse by contrasting these real-life tales with representations in popular media (reel-life case studies), such as literature and film. This review seeks to delve deep into the minds of CSA victims and acquires information on how their mental health is affected. The synthesis of research findings and personal narratives is to gain more insight into the tragic mental health outcomes of CSA victims and to appreciate the importance of support and intervention in their healing process.

Keywords

• Child sexual abuse
• Mental health
• Trauma
• Review
• Interventions
• Literature and film