J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2020 Aug;59(3):196-201. 10.4306/jknpa.2020.59.3.196.

Child Sexual Abuse and Nation-Funded Child Sexual Abuse Protection Center (Sunflower Center)

• Song DH

• KMID: 2506208
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2020.59.3.196

Abstract

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is one of the most crucial health and social problems. CSA has complicated issues related to mental, physical, sociocultural and legal perspectives, and social welfare in children and their families. Several psychopathologies following CSA have been reported as an immediate or short-term sequela, including fearfulness, anxiety-related symptoms, dissociation, and depression. Further, victimized adolescents have been reported to exhibit increased multiple problematic behaviors, such as suicidality, sexual dissatisfaction, uncontrolled sexual behaviors, aggression, and illegal drugs or substance abuse, as well as elevated risk of re-victimization. Nation-funded Sunflower Centers have provided comprehensive services for victims of sexual abuse since 2004. It is conducted in the form of one-stop services by psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, family therapists, art therapists, police officers, and counseling lawyers at 41 Sunflower Centers. The following issues for child welfare are further elaborated: 1) standardization of practice guidelines to manage trauma-related psychopathology through persistent government-lead research and investments for victims of CSA, 2) establishment of a nation-based agenda to manage and prevent CSA, 3) establishment of a multi-center nationbased cohort system for research and management of victims of CSA and their families, 4) governmental integration of Sun Flower service for CSA and services for child protection and abuse.

Keyword

Child sexual abuse; Sunflower Center; Treatment