There's been much outrage following the release of a video featuring JUI-F's Mufti Aziz-Ur-Rehman allegedly sexual abusing a teenager in a madrassah. The cleric has been booked by the Punjab police and the incident has sparked many conversations on social media -- from why enough isn't done to address the issue of abuse in madrassahs to why madrassah officials don't take action against abusive clerics.

Meanwhile, mental health practitioners are worried about the ramifications of the incident on the victim. Although the case is yet to be thoroughly investigated, it's provided an opportunity to discuss the rampant allegations of sexual abuse at educational institutes, especially madrassahs.

To understand the psychological aspect of child abuse, it is essential to look into the history. Sigmund Freud- who is widely regarded as the father of modern psychology and the primary developer of the process of psychoanalysis, talked about sexual abuse for the first time in 1896.

According to Freud, the neurotic and hysterical symptoms of his clients could be traced back to the early repressed memories of child abuse. Although it didn't get much traction, nearly a century later, Henry Kemp published The Battered Child Syndrome in 1962 which spurred lawmakers to amend existing laws and led to the enactment of child abuse reporting laws. After that, the topic became a part of the medical and psychiatric study. Since then, many cases have been reported of incest, sexual abuse, and misconduct worldwide.

A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that childhood victimization was associated with an increased risk for a lifetime with PTSD. Cases have been reported where childhood sexual abuse has a negative impact on brain development and its functionality. Similar findings were reported regarding PTSD and brain structure.

The main symptoms which can be easily seen in the victim are re-experiencing the trauma, avoidance, and increased agitation. Aside from that, the worst symptom is the survivor's guilt and the shame of the incident which leads to extremely low self-esteem and issues with body image.

A very young child who cannot even verbalize feelings or thoughts about trauma may demonstrate out-of-control, disruptive behavior, and extreme fear of being separated from the primary caregiver. It's important parents be taught to look for these signs and are equipped with tools to discuss this with their children.

The need of the hour is that we need vigilant parents and an efficient judicial system that can ensure and build a safe place for next generation to grow. The basic rule of thumb for parents is to keep their eyes wide open all the time and trust no one, as in most cases of child abuse predators are usually the ones families never expect, blood relatives or trustworthy people.