Anna Ashton: Online harm - the crisis no one’s trained to handle

Ten years ago, online harassment followed Anna Ashton everywhere - she couldn't escape by changing schools or moving homes. She became agoraphobic, was misdiagnosed with social anxiety, and eventually attempted suicide.

Her clinician didn't understand digital harm. There were no assessment tools, no training on grooming, catfishing, or sextortion. Anna had to teach her clinician the terms.

These days, Anna is doing important work as a lived experience advisor in Canterbury working on digital harm reduction. She's developing crisis plans for young people and a screening tool - because you can get screened for domestic violence at your GP, but not for digital harm.

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If you need support, here are helpful links, phone numbers and resources: https://ember.org.nz/resources/in-a-crisis/