Yellowknife (June 09/03) - Although it can be scary, painful and embarrassing, children must find the courage to speak out about sexual abuse.

Some people you might want to tell are parents, teachers, a nurse, counsellor or another adult or relative you trust. Although it may be scary at first and you may feel ashamed, talking about that horrible thing that happened will make you feel better.

"It's important they know that they are not alone. The feelings they are having are normal and what happened to them is not OK -- it's a crime," said Marie Speakman, victim's services worker for the Department of Justice.

The YWCA's Project Child Recovery program helps counsel and heal children who have witnessed violence or have been affected by it. It is partially funded by the Department of Justice, Yellowknife Health and Social Services and the YWCA.

Dian Morrissey is a "children who witness abuse" counsellor with Project Child Recovery. She provides group, individual and school counselling for children between the ages of five and 15. She educates them about identifying abuse, teaches them to overcome their grief and loss, and also helps them learn self-esteem, problem-solving and safety skills.

"We give them a safe environment. We provide an open, caring environment that encourages them to share, and whether or not they do share then they are at least listening and learning all the skills," said Morrissey.

The program is not specifically for sexually abused children, but it does accept referrals from schools, parents and the Department of Justice.

She urges any person, child or adult, who has been sexually abused in any way to tell somebody about it.

"It's not their fault. We tell them who they can go to, where they can turn ... and if somebody doesn't believe you then you find another adult that you trust and you keep talking to people about it.

"The bottom line is if they choose not to share then no one can force them to share. Nobody can put a Band-aid on it until you tell them that you have been hurt," said Morrissey.

Dana Heide, director of child and family services with the Department of Health, said when sexual abuse victims come forward they are first referred to a social worker or mental health worker for counselling.

"Following that, if it was beyond their capability, we would look at a referral to a Northern treatment facility or a Southern facility if the needs were there," he said.

If adequate treatment cannot be provided in the community, the child would then be transferred to the territorial treatment centre for children in Yellowknife or the Trail Cross treatment centre in Fort Smith.

Morrissey cautioned that if you don't talk about your abuse and try to come to terms with it, it could haunt you for the rest of your life. If you need help, you must ask for it.

"Quite often when you are working with children, something that you do today doesn't have an impact until months or years down the road when it just suddenly kicks in," she said.