How to identify
Warning signs in children, teenagers, adults, and people who depend on others for care.
Why signs are indicators and not proof
No single behaviour proves that a child has been sexually abused. Children show distress for many reasons, including bereavement, bullying, family conflict, and illness. What matters is change: a shift in a child's behaviour that is sudden, sustained, or out of character, especially when several changes appear together.
In younger children
- Sexual knowledge or language beyond what their age would explain
- Returning to earlier behaviours such as bedwetting, clinging, or thumb sucking
- Fear of a particular person or a strong reluctance to be left in a particular place
- Nightmares, disturbed sleep, or new fear of the dark
- Pain, bleeding, or discomfort when sitting or walking
In teenagers
- Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they previously enjoyed
- Self harm, disordered eating, or sudden risk taking
- Running away, or refusing to go to a specific house or class
- A new relationship with a significantly older person, particularly one kept hidden
- Unexplained money, a new phone, or gifts they cannot account for
In adults
Adults who have been assaulted often describe fearing they will not be believed, feeling ashamed, or not knowing who to tell. Signs may include withdrawal, difficulty sleeping, panic in ordinary situations, avoidance of particular places or people, and increased use of alcohol. Reactions vary enormously and there is no standard response to trauma.
In people with disabilities and older adults
People with physical or intellectual disabilities and older adults are assaulted at significantly higher rates than the general population, and are far less likely to be able to report it. Someone may depend on their abuser for care, may not be believed, or may not be able to describe what happened. Watch for fear of a particular carer, unexplained injury, sudden withdrawal, or changes in continence or sleep. Where a person cannot consent because they cannot understand what is happening, any sexual contact is an offence.
If you are unsure
You do not need to be certain before you act. Reporting a concern is not an accusation. Call 999, or contact the Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, and let trained people assess it.