A new resource for adult survivors of Sibling Sexual Abuse (SSA)

Sibling Sexual Abuse is a deeply hidden and under-reported form of child sexual abuse, affecting an estimated 5% of children in the UK—approximately 1.2 million kids. Survivors of SSA often face additional layers of trauma as their abuse is frequently silenced by the very families meant to protect them.

Research shows that sibling sexual harm starts earlier, lasts longer, and is more frequent and severe than other forms of child sexual abuse, with half of all cases beginning before the survivor’s 8th birthday and continuing for more than five years.*

The new website provides a much-needed virtual home where survivors can feel safe, be authentic, and share their stories without fear of judgment or causing distress to other family members. The platform offers educational resources, therapeutic tools, self-care tips, survivor stories, and a dedicated community forum — creating a comprehensive support network for those affected by SSA.

Tanith, Project Lead at SARSAS, said:

“It has been an honour and privilege to help lead this project. We could not have achieved what we have without the bravery, courage, honesty, integrity, and vulnerability of our dedicated survivors. Finally, they have a community. For the first time in decades, they are being seen, heard, and believed. They have become powerful change-makers and inspirational advocates.”

SARSAS’s work on this project has been further amplified through a collaboration with the popular TV show Hollyoaks, which recently featured a storyline on sibling sexual abuse. This partnership has played a crucial role in raising awareness and educating the public about this hidden form of abuse, offering survivors a chance to see their experiences reflected and validated in mainstream media.

Lorri Weaving, CEO at SARSAS, added:

“We are incredibly proud of our work to remove the stigma and silence around SSA. This website is a significant step in empowering survivors to reach out for support, knowing they are not alone. People have told us that they finally feel heard after years, sometimes decades, of not being listened to or believed.”

Since its soft launch at the beginning of this year, the website has been visited by 6.5K users. With only 12% of SSA survivors ever disclosing their abuse, this initiative is more important than ever, lifting the stigma and silence that allows sibling sexual abuse to thrive and offering hope to those affected.

“Survivors of SSA face an additional trauma consequence that most other forms of childhood sexual abuse don’t; that the whole family has a vested interest in keeping the survivor quiet. This adds to the isolation and trauma. 

The aim of the SSA project is to create a much-needed virtual home, a safe place where survivors can be authentic and honest without worrying about upsetting other family members.
SARSAS and the SSA project are creating this effectively and efficiently with survivor-led input. We can’t solve this problem in silence. We can only offer support to those who feel safe seeking help and support, and SARSAS tremendously does that.”

Carole – SSA survivor

For more information and to access the website, visit the SSA website.

*Kreinert and Walsh 2011, Finkelhor 1980, Bertele and Talmon 2021, deJong 1989