Innovative Steps in Preventing Sexual Abuse: Dr. Ainslie Heasman’s Talking for Change Program
Our focus fundamentally is around preventing child sexual abuse before it happens, so moving prevention upstream much further than has typically been the case and providing a range of services, anonymous and non-anonymous services to individuals who identify having a sexual interest in children, are concerned about offending sexually against a child or are concerned about using, or their potential use of child sexual exploitation material.
What if there was a way to prevent sexual abuse before it even happens? Dr. Ainslie Heasman, a Forensic & Clinical Psychologist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, is tackling this challenging issue head-on with her groundbreaking program, Talking for Change. In this episode of 'Quick Takes', Dr. David Gratzer chats with Dr. Heasman about her innovative approach to preventing child sexual abuse by focusing on those at high risk of offending.
The conversation sheds light on how the program offers both anonymous and non-anonymous services, making it accessible and less intimidating for individuals seeking help. Dr. Heasman shares the hurdles she faced in getting the program off the ground, including securing funding and ensuring user engagement. Despite these challenges, Talking for Change is making significant strides in mental health care by offering virtual and bilingual services across Ontario.
The program's effectiveness is gauged through various metrics, including pre and post evaluations, which help measure its impact. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in how innovative mental health programs can make a real difference in preventing abuse before it starts.