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Entry bubble Sexual Assault Awareness Month

By: Jess | April 02, 2009 | Category: Health

Look around. Count the first six women you see.

Out of those six people you just counted, one could be a victim of sexual assault, according to statistics from the Department of Justice.

If you're in a collegiate setting, the exercise is a little different. Look around, count the first four women you see. One of them could be a victim.

Every April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month is observed to help alert people of frightening statistics, like the ones above, and educate them on what to do if someone they know is a victim of rape or sexual assault.

Unfortunately, the numbers from the scenarios above are probably too low. Because many cases of rape and sexual assault go unreported there is no real way to gauge how many of such incidents occur in this country each year.

Some victims don't report because they feel shame, they think no one will believe them or they think they will be blamed for what happened.

The number one thing you can do as a friend if someone confides in you is to believe them and don't ask them how they let something like that happen. Victims never "ask for it" to happen. That's like saying someone asked to be mugged and have their wallet stolen.

The Rape, Incest and Abuse National Network offers other suggestions on ways to support a friend:

Listen in a nonjudgmental manner

Offer to accompany them if they choose to go to the police or a hospital, but never force them to do so.

Provide them with resources to get more help, such as the phone number for the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE)

Supporting a friend or family member through this experience can take an emotional toll on you too. There's information available on how to cope with any anger, frustration, sadness or other emotions you may be feeling as a result.

If you're looking for more information to educate yourself or help a friend, try these resources:

Understanding Sexual Violence

Sexual Assault Violence: Facts at a Glance

World Report on Violence and Health

Consequences of Sexual Violence

Prevention Strategies

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

| Post a Comment | View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: helping_victims   jess   sexual_assault_awareness_month  

Comments (4):

blue comment bubble Posted by Jane Doe on April 02, 2009 at 09:23 AM EDT

I heartily recommend reading "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker. It's a compelling, informative book that reveals the many ways we pick up on things going on around us that are actually alerting us to danger. De Becker drives home that if we listen to those signals, rather than ignore them or talk ourselves out of believing them, we can protect ourselves from severe danger, whether that's via rape, assault, stalking or workplace violence.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Thomas on April 02, 2009 at 12:46 PM EDT

Here in Wisconsin we are learning about a sexual predator who prayed on young boys for about forty years. They are speculating the reason why it went on for so many years was because of the shame that these young boy felt after being assaulted.

Thomas

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blue comment bubble Posted by Addiction Writer on April 06, 2009 at 04:41 PM EDT

Sexual assault is in fact a huge issue throughout the U.S. I am in the substance abuse rehabilitation industry counseling those in need of addiction treatment. I know from way too many sexual assault victims that this is a serious and overwhelmingly difficult epidemic to handle. Oddly enough i think those involved in substance abuse have a higher percentage of both being victimized as well as being the attacker. Through our efforts at http://www.addictionwatch.com we attempt to assist those sexual assault victims whom also present with an addiction related issue with referral, support and hopefully a path to follow out of the nightmare. Thanks for the supportive information and thanks for campaigning against this horrible public issue.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Kenneth Chadwick on April 06, 2009 at 08:00 PM EDT

A very thought provoking video, I haven't seen anything like this as yet here in the U.K. but perhaps we should follow suit

K Chadwick
http://harrierpestprevention.com

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