It’s time to talk about child abuse – shifting the narrative from stigma to safety

• Written by: Ashleigh Ronald — Wellbeing Scotland — Chief Clinical Officer, Wellbeing Scotland
• Published: 3rd February 2026

Wellbeing Scotland’s Chief Clinical Officer Ashleigh Ronald highlights why we must shift stigmatising narratives around child abuse.

This article contains discussion around the topic of child abuse.

Child abuse is often spoken about as something that happens in childhood rather than something that shapes lives now. There is an assumption that the harm fades, that survivors recover with time, or that resilience kicks in when adulthood is reached. This belief is not only inaccurate, it can actively prevent people from getting the support they need.

The reality is that child abuse can have a lifelong impact. Research consistently shows that people who experienced child abuse are at higher risk of depression, anxiety, addiction and difficulties with relationships well into adulthood (Strathearn et al., 2020). These are common responses to trauma, yet many people do not recognise them as such, including survivors themselves.

In our work across Scotland, we continue to meet adults who have lived for decades with the effects of abuse without ever naming it or seeking help. Shame, fear of judgement, and a belief that it is “too late” to talk about what happened are powerful silencers. Studies show that stigma plays a major role in preventing disclosure, with many people fearing they will not be believed or supported if they do come forward (Schomerus et al., 2021).

The way we talk about child abuse, whether in the media, professional settings or everyday conversation, can have a powerful influence over whether survivors feel safe to speak. When abuse is minimised, sensationalised or framed as something people should simply “move on” from, it encourages silence rather than support. Even well-intentioned responses can cause harm if they are not trauma-informed.

Scotland has taken meaningful steps to acknowledge historical abuse, including through the Scottish Government’s Redress Scheme for survivors of abuse in care. These initiatives matter, but recognition without understanding is not enough. Too many people still struggle to find appropriate, trauma-informed support when they do reach out, a challenge echoed in evidence from the World Health Organization (WHO, 2024).

If we want to improve outcomes for survivors, we must address this stigma head-on. That starts with accepting a simple truth: child abuse does not end when childhood does. It can have a life-long impact on affect mental health, physical wellbeing, relationships, employment and identity. We want to see movement towards an environment where understanding this is the norm, not the exception.

This is not just the responsibility of specialist services like ours. Employers, educators, healthcare professionals, policymakers and communities all have a role to play. Trauma-informed language and practice should be the norm, not the exception. Our experience shows that when people are met with empathy and understanding, they are far more likely to seek help and go on to experience better outcomes as a result.

So what can we do?

We can start by challenging myths when we hear them and believing people who speak up about their experiences. Organisations can invest in trauma-informed training and review how their policies and practices respond to disclosure. Policymakers can ensure that support for adult survivors is properly resourced and accessible. As individuals we can educate ourselves, listen and amplify the voices of survivors and the organisations supporting them.

Ashleigh Ronald Chief Clinical Officer, Wellbeing Scotland

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