What does bravery look like?

A lot has been written about Sara Rowbotham, the sexual health worker who worked to expose the issues of child sexual exploitation in Rochdale. After the BBC drama 3 Girls based on the case its highlighted how hard it can be to fight for what you believe is right.

Sometimes though bravery is made up of the smaller things. Depending on where our mental health is, just getting up in the morning or leaving the house can be an act of bravery. They may not be noticed by others, or have such an impact on society but for us as individuals they may be invaluable.

Another form of bravery is seeking help when needed. I try to always remember that for clients approaching me, this can be an extremely difficult thing to do. Not only is there the recognition that another person may be needed to help with things, its reaching out to a stranger without any idea of how that will be received. 

Sibling Sexual Abuse

I’ve written about sibling abuse in different forms a number of times.

I believe it is one of the most ignored forms of abuse that happens to children. Whether it is emotional, physical or sexual.

I saw this report of a victim of sibling sexual abuse getting justice after many years and believe it is so important to raising awareness of this issue.

The article also highlights the challenges that go with it. How parents respond when and if they are first told. The family connections that make it harder to avoid your abuser even decades later. The lifelong impact of the abuse.

I can only imagine the courage and persistence it took to seek justice after all this time for the victim and what the process cost them emotionally.