In March, half of visitors to the National Sexual Assault Hotline were minors. 

 

This grim statistic is a historic one. It’s the first time in the hotline’s history that minors have accounted for half of the people asking for help, according to a statement from the anti-sexual violence organisation, RAINN, which runs the hotline.

 

That figure can be traced to the implementation of shelter-in-place orders amid the new coronavirus pandemic, which came into effect across the U.S. in March. 

 

“Unfortunately for many, and especially for children experiencing sexual abuse, ‘stay at home’ doesn’t mean ‘safe at home,’” said Scott Berkowitz, RAINN’s president, in a statement.