Published Monday, 20 July 2009
Every year up to 88,500 sex abuse victims across the UK are left struggling to recover from their ordeal because of a "postcode lottery" in provision of therapeutic services, the children's charity warned.
A new report found there was less than one support programme per 10,000 children in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England - figures for Wales were not available - with some areas apparently offering nothing at all.
Even when therapy was available, it was an average of three months before the young victims saw a professional - and in some cases they had to wait a year.
Some therapeutic services are so over-stretched they are closing their waiting lists altogether, researchers said.
Teenagers were found to be particularly likely to miss out on therapy because they may be considered too old for support on a child protection plan, but are less able to access services for adults.
The report's other key findings included:
- Therapy was often offered too late, when the child was already showing symptoms of mental health or behavioural problems
- There were few services for young people who have suffered rape or a serious sexual assault because of a gap in provision
- Services are less accessible for young people living in rural areas, from ethnic minorities and with a disability.
The NSPCC's Debbie Allnock, who led the research, said the severe shortage of therapeutic services was a serious problem that needed "huge" investment.
"Sexual abuse can have devastating consequences for a child but it remains a low priority within mainstream mental health services and among local authorities," she said.
"It takes bravery for a young person to tell someone about their sexual abuse and ask for help.
"But their suffering may only get noticed when they show significant signs of distress, anguish or damaging behaviours. They may then have a long wait for the support they desperately need."
'Improvements'
A Department of Health spokesman said: "There have been considerable recent improvements in the delivery and quality of child and adolescent mental health services due to a 62% increase in spending since 2003-04 and a year-on-year reduction in waiting times.
"We are committed to improving services further, and that is why we commissioned an independent review into CAMHS which recommended producing clear expectations and good practice on waiting times.
"This guidance has been commissioned and we expect it to be published shortly."