Mental health narratives of child sexual abuse

Abstract: Child sexual abuse (CSA) involving mental illness or intellectual disability has serious concerns for both mental health and legal perspectives. In CSA, where a child is involved either as an alleged victim or a perpetrator, as a result of mental health-related issues, the mental health assessment and moral culpability should be considered before persecution. Early mental health evaluation with expert testimony with confidence of parents of the victims/perpetrators is essential in the court of law before persecution in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act, 2012). Hence, with minimum suspiciousness of any child related to CSA, there should be a mental health assessment, which will be highly beneficial in the court of law and also in the phase of rehabilitation for the child trailed under POCSO Act, 2012.