Gaby Hinsliff is correct in her suggestion that the remit of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse is “impossibly wide” (Opinion, 30 September). Of all the now serial misjudgements that have beset the inquiry, this was, from the outset and remains, the gravest. Theresa May’s decision to allow the inquiry to examine a vast array of state and non-state institutions – many of which had already been subject to wholly adequate inquiries – raises a fundamental question as to what it is supposed to achieve. More seriously, May’s decision raises the question as to whether the inquiry is no more than a smokescreen to obscure what was the original and overriding impetus for the inquiry: allegations that national politicians had sexually abused children, and had had their crimes covered up by officials throughout the criminal justice system and the secret services.
Dr Bernard Gallagher
Reader in social work, Centre for Applied Childhood, Youth and Family Studies, University of Huddersfield
• In your two case studies (Violence, trauma and the pressures of social media are driving women to breaking point, 30 September) both women had been sexually abused as children and had received support from mental health services which they did not find helpful. Neither appear to have been referred to nor received information about local voluntary services for people who have experienced sexual violence and abuse. The medical model approach of “diagnosis” and “treatment” is often unhelpful and where it is helpful, rarely sufficient. Any mental health service, given the frequency of sexual violence and abuse as a cause of or contributor to people’s difficulties, need only find out about local helping services through the Survivors’ Trust (thesurvivorstrust.org). This is not to imply that medication and hospital care are never helpful. But they are rarely sufficient and they can be very effective in conjunction non-judgmental counselling and other support.
Sally Plumb
Chair, RSVP (Rape and Sexual Violence Project, Birmingham and Solihull)
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
