Together, we can end sexual violence

April is nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse, Inc.

CASDA wants you to know there are resources available to educate and assist survivors of sexual assault.

Sexual assault is an act that breaks a person’s trust and safety. Survivors of sexual assault are forced, coerced or manipulated to participate in unwanted sexual activity. Survivors do not cause the assaults and are not to blame for them.

Sexual assault is a devastating crime, which has reached epidemic levels in our society.

According to composites of national studies one out of every four American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime and one out of six males will be victims of sexual assault before the age of 18 (www.RAINN.org).

For many of those who have been victimized by sexual assault the trauma doesn’t end after the physical act. While every survivor of sexual assault experiences trauma differently, many survivors of sexual assault may face a number of emotional challenges. Some of these emotional challenges are short-term responses to the trauma and others may last throughout a victim’s lifetime.

Some of these responses to trauma include: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), increased levels of fear and anxiety, suicidal ideation or attempts, eating disorders, drug and alcohol issues, mental health issues and low self-esteem.

According to the American Medical Association, sexual assault remains the most dramatically under-reported crime — with an estimated two-thirds of attacks unreported.

April is just one month we focus our efforts on sexual assault education, prevention and awareness.

CASDA joins thousands of advocates and survivors in observation of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

For more information or to get involved, contact CASDA at (715)-392-3136.

Together we can end sexual violence.

Leanne Grbavcich is the sexual assault program coordinator and Joseph Stensland is an intern at the Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse.

Tags: opinion, casda, health, family