10 Ways to Help Sexual Abuse Victims and Survivors

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA, October 28, 2012 (Press-News.org) Outrage, horror, and helplessness are some of the feelings expressed by those who hear about the childhood sexual abuse pandemic that surfaced in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky/Penn State child molestation trial.

What to do with those feelings has become an issue for many people across the country, especially as so many news organizations, including CNN, Reuters, and "The New York Times" have helped to spark an unprecedented awareness of child sexual abuse and child sexual predation. Child sexual abuse is reported up to 80,000 times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

"I can understand the public's desire to help out when they hear about these terrible child sex abuse scandals," says Peter S. Pelullo, a frequent guest on the Dr. Drew show and author of the recently released book "Betrayal and the Beast." "But there are practical things everyone can do to help put an end to this silent criminal pandemic."

In his book Mr. Pelullo focuses on his own journey as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and sexual predation. For many years he kept hidden and refused to face his own debilitating issues as a survivor--the shame, rage, multiple addictions, depression, and other influences that directly impacted his life. Finally, at the age of fifty-five, Mr. Pelullo confronted the sexual abuse he endured as a child.

Here are some ways Mr. Pelullo suggests people can help end sexual child abuse and offer aid to the victims:

* Donate money to child sexual abuse prevention and awareness organizations
* Volunteer your time to online associations
* Educate yourself and people around you as you become ever more aware of the problem
* Make a special point of talking to your children to make them aware of this problem
* Participate in the annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month every April
* Get involved in your local community's child sexual abuse prevention and awareness programs
* Help to raise money with events such as walks, runs, biking, bake sales, etc.
* Blog and tweet about the problem--use social media
* Start your own awareness and education program
* Join online discussion and action groups

Mr. Pelullo's personal experience of sexual abuse led him to create the Let Go...Let Peace Come In Foundation, which helps and supports adult victims of childhood sexual abuse throughout the world. The foundation is committed to supporting the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and its research toward preventing child sexual abuse and improving treatment for survivors of abuse.

"I believe all of us should be involved and be part of building child sexual abuse prevention and awareness," says Mr. Pelullo. "Whether it's donating money or just starting a dialog about child sex abuse, every action is vital. You never know--maybe you can save a child from this horrible crime. We still have a long way to go, but by working together we can help many survivors and reduce the number of sexual crimes across the country. We must do all we can to stop this violence against our kids."

Peter S. Pelullo was the founder of Philly World Records and owner of a premiere recording studio in the '70s, where he worked with the Rolling Stones, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Cashmere, and Eugene Wilde. He is now an entrepreneur and financier focusing on technology startups. During his journey in recovery, he created the Let Go...Let Peace Come In Foundation, which supports adult victims of childhood sexual abuse throughout the world.

Website: http://www.letgoletpeacecomein.org