We are proud to be supporting World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on the 15th of June. Established in 2011, this global event highlights the abuse experienced by older people worldwide. According to Hourglass, a charity that supports older people, 2.6 million people over the age of 65 are victims of abuse each year in the UK. This includes physical abuse, psychological abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, within our society, there is a misconception that these forms of abuse only affect younger people. This can result in older people's experiences being trivialised, and sometimes they don’t receive the support they deserve. The Revenge Porn Helpline wants to ensure that everyone affected by intimate image abuse can access support and advice.
Intimate Image Abuse
Through our work at the Revenge Porn Helpline, we have seen how intimate image abuse can affect anyone, regardless of their age or circumstance, and it is rarely an isolated crime. Threatening to share intimate content may be used in an abusive relationship to coerce the person into something they do not want to do. Unfortunately, when the content is shared, we’ve seen how devastating the emotional impact can be.
In addition to this, there are circumstances where images or videos were originally taken without consent during a sexual situation. This is sexual abuse. As Hourglass explains, ‘Sexual abuse of older people is rarely discussed... it is nevertheless a wide-spread reality’. No matter the circumstance, our Helpline practitioners will always do their best to support anyone affected by intimate image abuse and ensure that they are provided with the most appropriate guidance and emotional support services.
Older people affected by these crimes experience the same feelings of violation, helplessness, and shame. They may also fear the repercussions of reporting to the police or seeking practical support, and we know there may be additional barriers for older people accessing support. Barriers can arise in circumstances where they may feel like the abuse will get worse or worry that no one will believe them. This could be magnified for an older person if they are economically or physically dependent on their abuser, or if they are their primary carer. The abuser may be an adult family member who they want to protect, or they may feel that their age will cause them to be seen as less credible.
Intimate image abuse is a complicated crime, and we know it can be hard to understand the many circumstances in which this abuse can happen. We’ve tried to ensure that our website clearly breaks down the various forms of intimate image abuse, however, if you need further support, you can always get in touch with us and we’ll provide you with accessible support.
Accessing Support from the Revenge Porn Helpline
The Revenge Porn Helpline is here to support all adults affected by intimate image abuse, and we aim to make the service as accessible as we can by offering multiple ways to get in touch with us. If an older person is not familiar with emails, we can arrange a call back at a time that is appropriate for them. With consent, we can also talk to a friend or family member on their behalf.
Our Helpline is a victim-led service, which means that anyone who gets in touch with us will be in control of the support they receive, and we will always ask for permission before searching for content.
There is no limit on the number of times people can contact the Helpline, so people can ask as many questions as they need. We’ve also ensured that our information pages include video explainers with captions and BSL translations, alongside publishing our advice in easy read formats.
If you want to find out more about the support available and the various ways to contact us, you visit our website below, or you can get in touch with us by calling 0345 6000 459 or emailing help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk.
