Parent Urges Government to Provide Mental Health Support for Child Abuse Survivors

A heartbroken parent whose 5-year-old daughter was sexually abused by a police officer has called on the government to introduce mental health therapy and psychosocial support for survivors of sexual violence.

The parent expressed concern that although the perpetrator has since been convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison, the psychological trauma endured by the child remains unaddressed.

“My daughter is still haunted by the experience. Justice was served, yes but the emotional damage she carries is something no jail sentence can fix,” said the parent.

She emphasized that while punishing offenders is important, comprehensive mental health care must also be prioritized to help victims recover and rebuild their lives.

Mental health activist Flora Sewa has echoed the call, stressing the urgent need for Malawi to establish specialized mental health and counselling facilities tailored to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

“There’s a gap in post-trauma support for victims,” said Sewa. “We need more than just legal justice we need healing.”

The plea comes at a time when mental health awareness is gaining traction in Malawi, but access to psychological services remains limited, especially in rural areas.

Advocates are urging the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities to allocate resources towards establishing accessible, survivor-centered mental health services across the country.

Source: Zodiak Online