As
part of the week long national mental health campaign, SRC is keen to highlight
the serious mental health difficulties faced by young people, women and men who
have been raped and/or sexually assaulted. From 21-26 May, SRC will be running
a series of media campaigns and take part in various local events in
Southampton and Winchester to help raise awareness and break the stigma around
mental health.
Studies have
shown that mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder,
depression, suicidal thoughts, and substance/alcohol misuse are experienced at
more severe levels in rape/abuse victims than in non-victims. Women who have
been raped are 13 times more likely than non-crime victims to have attempted
suicide, and they are 26 times more likely to have significant substance misuse
problems. The figures are equally alarming for men. Males who have been sexually assaulted, for example, are three times more
likely to see a psychiatrist and 4-5 times more likely to harm themselves.
Sarah received counselling from SRC years after experiencing sexual abuse.
As a child she grew up in a home with an emotionally absent mother and a highly
abusive father. Her father was emotionally and physically abusive towards her resulting
in her suffering rape as a teenager.
“Self-hatred was my own worst enemy.”
The psychological pain from this level of abuse led Sarah to experience bulimia,
anorexia, depression and self-harm.
Our experience has shown that counselling is an effective way to help
mitigate the mental health difficulties experienced by our clients. Last year,
64% of our clients were diagnosed with mental health and received regular
contact with their GP. Following face to face counselling, 76% of them were
able to stop or reduce contact, 60% showed an improvement in levels of
depression, and 53% reduced or discontinued prescribed medication.
After attending a few counselling sessions Sarah was able to start looking
forward to her future and not backwards at her abuse. By the time she had
completed her counselling Sarah was bulimia and anorexia free for the first
time in 20 years. She has returned to her job, moved to her own flat and is now
able to live out of fear independently. “There are many contributing factors
that have helped me and I don’t doubt the progress I have made, I am in a much
better place than I would’ve been if this service didn’t exist.”
During Mental
Health Week SRC promoted a strong media
campaign supported by stall events at Solent University, Southampton University
and Winchester University in collaboration with Heads-Up creator Abby Crowe
from Solent Mind. SRC will also be taking part in the Community Event Day
hosted by Hampshire Police to attract multi-cultural communities to learn more
about the services available to them in the City. We are very excited and keen
to raise awareness about our work amongst diverse communities. The Community
Event Day will be particularly poignant with SRC volunteers providing
information and advice about SRC and mental health in English, Polish and Urdu.
Katie loates
Business development co-ordinator
Meet
SRC at the Community Event Day at Guildhall Square on the 26th May