Are you listening?

Mental Health Nursing,  Jan 2004  by Thomas, Gill

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Do mental healthcare professionals understand the link between childhood abuse and adult illness? Gill Thomas, chair of the National Association of People Abused in Childhood, thinks not

Is complete recovery from the damaging effects of childhood abuse currently possible in mainstream English mental health services?

As chair of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), I recently attended a three day conference promoting the work of National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE).

I hoped that the extensive research linking adult mental health problems with physical/emotional/sexual childhood abuse was sufficiently recognised to affect the way mainstream clinical services support and treat adult survivors of abuse. Unfortunately there was no such assurance.

I was, however, given the opportunity to talk to key individuals who were implementing change in clinical practice and front line services for mental health users. This was a welcome, long awaited chance to inform and educate them on the damaging effects of childhood abuse.

I produced research showing that at least 60% of female psychiatric inpatients have experienced childhood abuse. I explained the relationship between the traumatic aetiology of abuse and its associative affect. I discussed the significance of dissociative identity disorders in adults who had experienced childhood abuse and how this, left undiagnosed and untreated leads to coping strategies such as, alcohol and drug addictions, eating disorders and, self harm.

Hundreds of survivors seem to be categorised into mental health mis-diagnosis when they are suffering from DID due to childhood abuse.

Very few mental health professionals recognise DID in their clients. I believe survivors would welcome this diagnosis.

I appeal to planners to address the current symptom-management culture, fuelled by the pharmaceutical industry; listen to the rich experiential knowledge that recovered survivors of abuse have and use that knowledge to effect positive change in services. They should challenge the intellectual bastions of the past and engage with client's experiences in a way that encourages equality and respect.

I was listened to quite genuinely but the response was disappointing. I was informed that this was a huge cultural and social issue to address and that opening the door on it now was not part of their plan.

So what is the prognosis for all the millions of adult survivors of abuse in England? Effective healthcare professionals and therapists are too busy and burnt out to effect change.

In the end it's up to us, the survivors. We must no longer accept lip service, tokenism, marginalisation and isolation. We must work together, speaking as one voice to ensure mental health executives provide adequate funding for needs-led, supportive, services.

Copyright Community Psychiatric Nurses Association Jan 2004
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