Did you know that one in five women (eight million) in the UK have been sexually abused, or that one in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused?*
This week, 1 to 7 February, is Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, and we at the Ministry of Justice want to highlight our #ItStillMatters campaign.
Being a victim of sexual assault can be traumatic and, whether it happened yesterday or years ago, it can leave you feeling frightened, upset and overwhelmed.
Sexual abuse has been linked to 11% of all common mental health disorders, 15% of eating disorders and 17% of post-traumatic stress disorders.*
It’s important to remember that no matter what happened, it isn’t your fault and you don’t need to face this alone. You can get confidential support from specialists who understand how hard it is to talk about sexual abuse and violence. The first step to reach out for support will be different for everyone. You can speak to someone over the phone or chat to someone online. Whether you want to get emotional support from trained counsellors, understand how the criminal justice system works or just be listened to and believed, you will be heard.
One anonymous survivor who was helped by National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) says:
“I could rationalise my experience before, but I could not connect with it for fear I would be consumed by the sadness of it all. Through seeking support, I am now in touch with my emotions and feelings which is new for me.
“Now I feel that particular misconceptions have been rewritten. I’m now happy to feel it, I’m embracing all of it and I’m finding that it’s getting less overpowering the more I encounter with it through the support that I am receiving.”
Another, who was helped by Safeline, says:
‘’I honestly could not have got through this whole process without my ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advocate). She just got me. She understood what I was going through and she knew how I needed to be told things and handled.
“Sometimes you meet someone at the right time and she was it for me. I would not have got through it without her. Simple as that. I remember her telling me to keep breathing and, when I was in court, I could hear her breathing too and it reminded me that I was not alone.
“My ISVA never compromised on their aim to put me first. I would trust her with my life and I think if anyone is going through something similar, then they won’t go far wrong in getting the support required.’’
It’s so important for sexual abuse and assault survivors to remember that they don’t have to face this alone. If you need help or support go to gov.uk/sexualabusesupport. Support organisations will be able to explain your choices and help you decide the best way forward for you. Also, please remember that you don’t have to ask for have support if you don’t want to and you don’t have to report it, if you choose not to. But whenever it happened, #ItStillMatters.
*All statistics from Safeline.org.uk.
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Whether you were assaulted yesterday or years ago, it can leave you feeling frightened, upset and overwhelmed
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MumsnetGuestPosts · 01/02/2021 10:36
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