“I Didn’t Know Where To Go”: An Examination of Stop It Now!’s Sexual Abuse Prevention Helpline

Abstract

This study examines data from Stop It Now!’s Helpline in the United States primarily over a 5-year, 3-month period and offers insights into the needs of individuals and families confronting issues related to child sexual abuse (CSA). Stop It Now!’s Helpline serves the global community by providing support, information, and guidance to those in need, such as helping to identify and respond to warning signs of sexually abusive behaviors in adults, adolescents, or children. More than 7,000 ( N = 7,122) nonidentifiable user records are the subject of this inquiry and reflect individuals who contacted the Helpline between December 1, 2012, and March 7, 2018. The article also places this analysis in a larger context through an overview that includes total user count of this service since its inception in 1995 ( N = 21,030). Descriptive statistics revealed that the majority of Helpline users identified as bystanders, family members, or friends/acquaintances of an individual at risk to abuse. The majority of users knew both the person at risk to abuse (adult or youth) and the child at risk of being abused. Twelve percent of users had questions or concerns about their own feelings and/or behaviors that were or could be putting a child at risk of sexual abuse. Chi-square tests examined the relationship between Helpline contact type, level of assessment, and gender. Findings provide insights into this hidden population of individuals at risk to abuse, those who have abused, as well as their friends and families who are seeking support. Study findings also reinforce the importance of CSA prevention helplines that focus on reducing the isolation and secrecy that creates conditions which make children more vulnerable to abuse. Implications for future research and prevention programming are also discussed.