The contribution illuminates how collaboration between science, experts in the field of child and youth welfare, psychiatry, and theatre can influence collective memory regarding the processing of the taboo surrounding (sexualised) violence against children and young people in institutions and abuse of power in public health and child and youth welfare. The topic will be explored through an empirical study on violence against children and adolescents in institutions in Carinthia/Austria (Loch et al., 2022), and through the theatre play “Nicht sehen” (Noam Brusilovsky). The research results show the interconnection between collective memory, collective and individual narratives, and their influence on the well-being of former victims of violence.