Central Alberta’s Crisis Centre is seeing a frightening trend in sexual assault — younger assailants.
“We’re starting to see some very young perpetrators and we’re thinking it’s because of the convenience of computer porn sites,” said Lois Hansen, executive director of the centre that assists victims of sexual assault.
Children are seeing porn and are acting it out on younger friends or relatives, she said.
“That’s frightening for us.”
Parents need to be very wary of what children are watching on television and on the Internet. But it’s not easy to control, she said.
“The trouble now is it’s so hard because if you have an iPod you can get onto the Internet, with phones you can get on the Internet.”
And if children don’t have easy Internet access, they likely have a friend who does, she said.
“It’s very tough for parents to put those controls in now compared to even what it was five years ago.”
Hansen said there’s also been an increase in date rape among young teens and sex texting of photos is on the rise.
“They need to realize it’s like a virtual tattoo. It will never go away.”
Youth are a “sexualized generation” thanks to technology and the media, and the Crisis Centre wants to respond with more programs for teens, she said.
The centre runs a relationship program in schools starting in Grade 8 and will be providing a new program in elementary school. To reach the Internet generation, the Crisis Centre is now on Facebook.
In 2009, the centre provided 971 appointments for counselling or therapy to victims.
The Crisis Centre — Sexual Assault Services, funded mainly by the Alberta Solicitor General’s Department, the United Way, Family and Community Support Services, and Alberta Children and Youth Services, operates a 24-hour crisis telephone line and provides free and confidential counselling.
In addition to providing counselling in Red Deer, staff now go out once a week to Rocky Mountain House and Hobbema.
Hansen said it’s difficult for some people to travel to Red Deer. Ideally, the Crisis Centre would love a company vehicle to reduce travel expenses for staff and is hoping an organization or individual will donate a vehicle.
The crisis line is 403-356-1099 or 1-866-956-1099 toll free.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com