Survivors of institutional abuse suffer long-term impacts

Survivors of institutional abuse often keep silent about the trauma they endured for many years. Sometimes, they turn to drugs or alcohol to numb the pain associated with it. Survivor Jacob Little said the abuse was a “life sentence”. If you are a survivor and you’re experiencing ongoing impacts, you’re not alone.

Research conducted by shows some of the impacts of institutional abuse include:

Psychological Impacts

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Personality Disorders

• Suicidality/Self Harm

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Mood Disorders

Social Impacts

• Social and Relational Difficulties

• Anger, Fear, Shame and Self-Blame

• Relationship Problems

• Parenting Difficulties

• Sexual Problems

• Alcohol and Substance Use

• Gambling

• Criminal Behaviour

• Re-Victimization

Physical Impacts

• Immediate Injuries & Effects

• Long Term Disability Status 

• Hearing Impairment 

• Muscular & Skeletal Issues

• Sleep Difficulties

Educative & Economic Impacts

• School Attendance

• Participation in Class

• Educational Attainment

• Literacy/Numeracy

• Underemployment/Unemployment

• Anti-Social/Criminal Behaviour

• Homelessness/Housing

Spiritual Impacts

• Distrust/Anger at Religious Institutions

• Spirituality

• Vicarious Trauma

• Families of Abused Children

Secondary Psychological Impacts

• Loss of Social Connectedness

• Disruption to Work & Living Arrangements

• Parenting Difficulties – e.g., Showing Affection, Harsh or Inconsistent Parenting.

The research found coping strategies included hobbies and the pursuit of justice. “Pursuing justice was discussed by many as a way to channel their energy, although many found the experience draining and often their expectations around institutions taking responsibility were not met,” the report found.

The impacts on survivors in prison was also examined. “Most of the survivors talked about their drug and alcohol use being the main reason they were in prison, which were associated with their trauma from abuse. While in prison survivors talked about their experiences of sexual abuse in institutions being ignored or not being taken seriously, the challenges of living in an institutionalised environment and living in an environment where perpetrators of child sexual abuse were also being detained,” the report states.

The report concluded that institutional abuse affects all facets of a survivor’s life. “The impacts of abuse potentially impact all facets of life for survivors, directly and indirectly and for many across the entire course of their lives,” the report states.  “The narratives from survivors have highlighted the complexity of the interactions between positive coping factors and impacts and the changing nature of the impacts over the life-course. As highlighted, special consideration is needed for how survivors are cared for in later life, with fear of aged care and other institutionalised environments presenting real concerns for survivors.”