Boy Scout Abuse Lawyer in Philadelphia Guiding You Through Sensitive Times

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent youth development organizations, providing programs for young people to learn survival skills, the value of teamwork, and more importantly, to instill ethical and moral values. However, certain organizations such as the BSA can, unfortunately, provide an opportunity for perpetrators in a position of power (such as scoutmasters) to groom and exploit victims who are regularly taught to respect and follow their guidance. When that trust is broken and violated, it can be especially harmful to victims of sexual abuse.

Effects of Sexual Abuse

The impact of sexual abuse is never the same for each survivor. Victims of sexual assault often develop negative emotions, have impaired interpersonal relationships, and struggle with mental and psychological disorders through adulthood.   Sexual abuse may breed feelings of shame, terror, guilt, and pain that can last for years or even decades after the abuse has ended.
Survivors may suffer from mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These conditions make it challenging for survivors to resume normal life activities. Some survivors experience personality disruptions like dissociation, which is marked by detachment from reality as a coping mechanism. Addiction, self-mutilation, and attempted suicide may also present in victims of abuse.

Survivors are at an increased risk of harmful physiological conditions, such as high blood pressure, persistent pain, and chronic sleep disorders.

There is a great financial burden that comes with sexual violence. The estimated lifetime cost of rape is $122,461 per victim or a population economic burden of nearly $3.1 trillion over victims’ lifetimes.