The following news release describes the reality of sexual assault survivors in Saskatchewan.
Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes, provincial coordinator, Saskatchewan Association of Sexual Assault Services in Yorkton, wants people to know the facts, "because there's a lot of misconceptions out there, and a lot of people also don't realize what services are out there for them when they've been sexually assaulted," she said.
The first action a victim should take is sensing an assault. "If it doesn't feel right, it's probably not right. Trust your gut." If a victim thinks " 'I don't like how this feels I don't like how this incident made me feel I'm not comfortable I don't feel safe in the situation,'" then you may have been a victim of sexual assault, and need to get help. Ritchie-McInnes suggests going to your local RCMP, hospital emergency room, or if you are a woman in Yorkton, the Women's Wellness Centre. "If it's a child there's a pediatric sexual assault team and that is located out of Regina. That's where an individual would take a child for an examination."
If you think someone you know may be experiencing, or has experienced sexual assault, a warning sign may be a change in behavior of the suspected victim. "There may be a dichotomy. If someone is really introverted, they may become very extroverted. So if their normal personality or personality up to that point before the incident is very conservative and introverted, they may become very promiscuous they may become engaged in risky behavior."
The following news release was sent to 46 media outlets in Saskatchewan:
Needs of Victims
Just as victims' emotions and resulting consequences are unique, their recovery processes are also unique. Following sexual assault, victims require a compassionate and non judgmental response from all systems, individuals and community that will aid in their recovery. Coordinated system responses are required immediately following the assault and must continue through long term recovery. Advocacy, prevention and education are also important components of coordinated community responses. A victim may require all or part of the following responses:
Emergency medical treatment
Medical collection of evidence
Police intervention and investigation
Trauma response (crisis) counseling and support
Safe shelter
Advocacy assistance throughout the legal process
Court accompaniment
Ongoing medical support
Individual therapy using various modalities
Group therapy
All of these responses need to be easy to access, coordinated for seamless service, competent and affordable.
Family members and persons close to victims are also victimized by sexual assault. It is also a crisis for them. They may experience a range of emotions - anger, desire for retaliation, powerlessness, guilt, shame and loss of intimacy. Sexual assault centers may help many of these "secondary victims" by providing education, personal counseling, and by assisting them to help the primary victim heal.
Effects of Sexual Assault
The effects of sexualized violence are felt throughout our communities. They are major factors negatively impacting the health, education, and justice systems. Work places and productivity are directly impacted.
The damage caused by sexual assault takes many forms. Victims report experiencing a combination of the following emotions, some obvious and some not, all of which potentially cause psychological damage:
Guilt - believing they are in some way responsible for the assault
Shame - feelings of worthlessness
Fear - fear of further assaults or harm to others
Grief - loss of innocence and the feeling that the world is no longer a safe and friendly place
Anger - intense feelings with the inability to strike back
Helplessness - due to the inability to prevent assault
Depression - rooted in anger and helplessness
These emotions may manifest themselves in many ways including, but not limited to:
Inability to concentrate, and, therefore, to work or learn effectively
Eating disorders
Anxiety and panic attacks
Self harm and self mutilation
Sexual dysfunction
Inappropriate sexual behaviors
Drug and/or alcohol addictions
Allergies
Sleep disorders
Chronic pain
Relationship difficulties
Personality disorders
Post traumatic stress disorder
There is no reason to believe that assault by an intimate partner is less traumatic than other assaults.
Sexual assault by an intimate partner may result in increased emotional impact and a heightened sense of betrayal and violation, causing the victim to lose trust in others and in her/his judgment.
