2. Topic of Interest
Why is Sexual Assault my topic of interest?
How many of you know a person/personally been a victim of Sexual
Assault?
Counseling experience with Sexual Assault/Trauma!
3. Sexual Assault
What to do?
It’s hard to know what to do, how to feel, or what your options are
after a sexual assault. Please know that you’re not alone. Below are
some things to keep in mind. If you are in immediate danger or
seriously injured, call 911.
Your safety is important.
What happened was not your fault.
Call a local hotline or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at
800.656.HOPE (4673).
4. Definitions
Sexual Assault: is any involuntary sexual act in which a person is coerced
or physically forced to engage against their will, or any non-consensual
sexual touching of a person
Examples: Rape, Forced kissing or Groping
Domestic Violence: Domestic violence is a crime of power and
intimidation. It relates highly to sexual assault.
Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment is intimidation, bullying or coercion
of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards
in exchange for sexual favors.
Examples: leering, pressure for dates, pressing or rubbing against a person,
obscene phone calls, bra snapping or whistles
5. Statistics
44 % of victims are under the age of 18; 80% are under the age of 30
Each year there are about 293,000 victims of sexual assault
68% of sexual assaults go unreported
Approximately 2/3 of assaults are committed by someone known to the
victim
38% of rapists are a friend or acquaintance
1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or
completed rape in her lifetime
6. Resources
1) Mayoclinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-
disorder/basics/definition/con-20022540
2) Rainn (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): https://www.rainn.org
3) Planned Parenthood: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-central-
western-new-york/restore
If you or someone you know needs help dealing with the aftermath of a sexual assault, please
call our 24-hour hotline at: 24-Hour HotlinesMonroe County: (585) 546-2777Genesee, Livingston,
Orleans, Wyoming: 1-800-527-1757
4) NYSCASA: http://nyscasa.org/responding/crisiscenters
5) YWCA: http://www.ywcaniagara.org/
7. YWCA= Young Women Committed to
Action
24 Hour Helpline: that is answered by trained staff providing an immediate
response to victims of domestic violence. 716-433-6716
Adult Counseling Program
Lockport City Court Advocacy: To schedule an appointment with the
advocate, contact 716-439-6630
Educational Support Group
Safe Dwelling/ Transitional Housing
Community Outreach
10. Possible Diagnosis
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Mental health condition that’s
triggered by a terrifying event– either experiencing it or witnessing it.
Intrusive Memories:
Avoidance:
Negative Changes: In thinking or mood
Changes in Emotional Reactions: Also called arousal symptoms
11. Continued Concerns
Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs): A Sexually Transmitted Infection is a
bacterial or viral infection passed from one person to another through
vaginal, anal, or oral contact.
Concerned you have one?
1) If you want to be tested, you may need to ask.
2) You may not show symptoms.
3) You can get help.
12. Continued Concerns
Self Harm: Deliberate self-harm, also called self-injury, is when people inflict
physical harm on themselves, usually in private and without suicidal
intentions. Some survivors of sexual assault may use self-harm to cope with
difficult or painful feelings.
Examples:
Biting
Burning
Cutting
Pulling out hair
Thinking of harming yourself?
13. References
After a Sexual Assault | RAINN | Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. (n.d.). Retrieved
January 28, 2015, from https://www.rainn.org/get-information/sexual-assault-recovery/tips-for-
after-an-attack
Home - salt lake city. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2015, from
http://www.ywca.com/site/c.emJ1KgOQJhIaG/b.7965121/k.BCF0/Home.htm
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2015, from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-
disorder/basics/definition/con-20022540
RESTORE :: Central and Western New York. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2015, from
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-central-western-new-york/restore
About Rape Crisis Programs | NYSCASA. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2015, from
http://nyscasa.org/responding/crisiscenters
Strong alone. fearless together. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2015, from
http://www.ywcaniagara.org/
Statistics | RAINN | Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2015,
from https://www.rainn.org/statistics
http://nyscasa.org/responding/crisiscenters
Editor's Notes
What to do?
It’s hard to know what to do, how to feel, or what your options are after a sexual assault. Please know that you’re not alone. Below are some things to keep in mind. If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured, call 911.
Your safety is important. Are you in a safe place? If you’re not feeling safe, consider reaching out to someone you trust for support. You don’t have to go through this alone.
What happened was not your fault. Something happened to you that you didn’t want to happen—and that’s not OK.
Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673). You’ll be connected to a trained staff member from a local sexual assault service provider in your area. They will direct you to the appropriate local health facility that can care for survivors of sexual assault. Some service providers may be able to send a trained advocate to accompany you.
Sexual Assault: is any involuntary sexual act in which a person is coerced or physically forced to engage against their will, or any non-consensual sexual touching of a person
Examples: Rape,(such as forced vaginal, anal or oral penetration or drug facilitated sexual assault) Forced kissing or Groping (The term groping is used to define the touching or fondling of another person in a sexual way (including through clothing), using the hands, without that other person's consent.)
Domestic Violence: Domestic violence is a crime of power and intimidation. It relates highly to sexual assault. Not only can the abuse be emotional, physical, psychological, and financial, but it can be sexual. Some of the signs of sexual abuse are very similar to those of domestic violence
Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In the United States, sexual harassment is a form of discrimination which violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The legal and social definition of what constitutes sexual harassment differ widely by culture. Sexual harassment includes a wide range of behaviors from seemingly mild transgressions to serious forms of abuse, and some forms of sexual harassment overlap with sexual assault. Sexual harassment may include leering, pressure for dates, pressing or rubbing against a person, obscene phone calls, bra snapping, wolf-whistles, lip-smacking, indecent exposure, sexual discrimination, displaying explicit materials, sexist jokes, unwanted grabbing, comments about person's body, soliciting sexual services
44 % of victims are under the age of 18; 80% are under the age of 30
Every 107 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted
Each year there are about 293,000 victims of sexual assault
68% of sexual assaults go unreported
98% of rapists will never spend a day in jail or prison
Approximately 2/3 of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim
38% of rapists are a friend or acquaintance
1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime
*** Have any of you heard of any other interesting statistics?
These are just a few of many resources that you can reach out to when in need! Many people are unaware of how many resources they are surrounded by but the YWCA happens to be one of my favorites and one I will hopefully work for one day!
I would like to break down one of the organizations that can greatly help you, if you were to unfortunately be in a position of sexual assault.
YWCA: Young Women Committed to Action! 24 Hour Helpline that is answered by trained staff providing an immediate response to victims of domestic violence. 716-433-6716
Adult Counseling Program: Provides information on the dynamics of domestic violence and abusive relationships, identifies options, develops safety plans, and offers emotional support.
Lockport City Court Advocacy: To provide comprehensive assistance to domestic violence victims, including counseling, court accompaniment and referrals to outside agencies, a YWCA Domestic Violence Victim’s advocate is stationed within the Lockport Police Department. To schedule an appointment with the advocate, contact 716-439-6630
Educational Support Group: Helps women understand the dynamics of domestic violence in an emotionally supportive environment. Childcare is available
Safe Dwelling: A residential program that provides temporary, safe shelter to female victims of domestic violence and their children. Transitional housing is also available as the second stage of housing after the crisis shelter.
Community Outreach: Speakers are available for education and awareness training to community organization and general audiences. Age appropriate curriculum on domestic and dating violence, as well as anger management for grades 3-12.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Intrusive memories
Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event
Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the event
Avoidance
Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event
Negative changes in thinking and mood
Negative feelings about yourself or other people
Inability to experience positive emotions
Feeling emotionally numb
Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed
Hopelessness about the future
Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
Difficulty maintaining close relationships
Changes in emotional reactions
Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior
Always being on guard for danger
Overwhelming guilt or shame
Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
Trouble concentrating
Trouble sleeping
Being easily startled or frightened
Intensity of symptoms
PTSD symptoms can vary in intensity over time. You may have more PTSD symptoms when you're stressed in general, or when you run into reminders of what you went through. For example, you may hear a car backfire and relive combat experiences. Or you may see a report on the news about a sexual assault and feel overcome by memories of your own assault.
Sexual Transmitted Infections (STI’s): A Sexually Transmitted Infection is a bacterial or viral infection passed from one person to another through vaginal, anal, or oral contact. STIs can be transmitted whether this contact was consensual or not.
STIs can infect a person of any age or gender. Although the signs may vary, when an STI starts showing symptoms, it’s called a sexually transmitted disease, or STD.
Concerned you have one?
1) If you want to be tested, you may need to ask. Not all healthcare professionals automatically test for STIs after a sexual assault. Even if you agree to a sexual assault forensic exam, it may not include these tests. Be aware that there may be necessary follow-up testing.
2) You may not show symptoms. Some STIs won’t show symptoms right away, but left untreated they can worsen. Testing is the best way to diagnose and treat the infection when there are no symptoms. You can be tested at any time, no matter how much time has passed since the event.
3) You can get help. Most STIs and STDs are curable with antibiotics that you can get by visiting a healthcare professional. STIs caused by a virus, like herpes, can often be managed over time with the help of medications.
What is self-harm? Deliberate self-harm, also called self-injury, is when people inflict physical harm on themselves, usually in private and without suicidal intentions. Some survivors of sexual assault may use self-harm to cope with difficult or painful feelings.
Common forms of self-harm include:
Biting
Burning
Cutting
Hitting the body
Pulling out hair
Scratching and picking skin
--Self-harm isn’t necessarily a warning sign for suicide, but it can be a sign that someone has survived a serious trauma.
--You might be trying to numb the pain, feel a release, or regain a sense of control.
--Unfortunately, this relief is often short-lived, and the urge to self-harm can return, encouraging a cycle of self-harm that may cause damage, infection, and sometimes life-threatening medical problems.
What can I do if I am thinking about harming myself?
--Leave the room where the object is that you were going to use for self-harm. If this is not possible, put the object out of your sight until the urge to self-harm passes.
Control your breathing. Take slow deep breaths, counting to five as you inhale, holding your breath for three more seconds, then counting to five as you exhale. Repeat this five to ten times.
--Go outside and take a walk. Describe to yourself everything you see in great detail.
--Write it out. Write down what you are thinking and feeling. For some people this helps them move through the difficult time. Other people like writing about something different—what they’re doing on the weekend, or what they’re looking forward to.
--Send a text message to someone—it can be about anything. It can be about how you are feeling or something that seems unimportant. Keeping your hands busy is important, and texting a friend or loved one can help you get through this time.
--Draw on yourself or use henna tattoos on the part of the body where you wanted to self-harm.
--Take a hot shower or a bath, but first remove any razors that are in the area. Stay in the shower or bath until the urge to self-harm fades.
--Rub ice across the part of your body where you typically self-harm.
--Tear up newspapers, magazines, or cardboard into the smallest pieces you can make.
