SAFE SPACES FOR SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THE BURDEN ON MENTAL HEALTH
Have you ever thought about how hard it has been for a victim of sexual violence to come out and tell their story? And how even harder it is for them to be believed? In the past, society has not been very accepting of victims of sexual violence, and many have been silenced because of it.
Imagine the pain and fear a victim of sexual violence goes through. They are grappling with the trauma of what happened to them while also dealing with the aftermath, which can include physical injuries, emotional distress, and mental health issues.
Thankfully, this is slowly changing as more
and more people are becoming aware of the reality of sexual violence and its
prevalence in our society.
WHAT
DO THE FINDINGS SAY?
Recent research has shown that sexual violence
can lead to a wide range of negative mental health outcomes. It is important to
address sexual violence prevention and intervention initiatives to reduce the
burden on mental health caused by this appalling crime.
In 2018, 9% of Nigerians were sexually abused.
The largest occurrence occurred in Gombe. A poll found that 44% of residents
had suffered sexual assault.
In 2019, 59 incidences of sexual assault were recorded in
Nigeria. More than half of the victims (56 incidents) were female, according to
the data. Since 2017, there has been a rise in the number of incidents reported
to the police.
WHY
IS SEXUAL VIOLENCE BECOMING A MAJOR ISSUE?
Sexual violence has been a problem for centuries, but it is only recently that we are starting to see a greater focus on this issue. There are many reasons why sexual violence is becoming more prevalent, including:
- The rise of the MeToo movement has encouraged more survivors to come forward and report their experiences.
- Increased media coverage of sexual violence
cases, has raised awareness of the issue.
WHAT
ARE THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE?
As mentioned earlier, sexual violence can have
a profound impact on the mental health of survivors. Some of
the most common are:
ANXIETY
We often call people dramatic when they overreact
to a certain thing or remain in a constant state of worry, but anxiety is a
very real thing for someone who has been sexually assaulted.
God forbid, but the victim can someone be your
family member or close friend. It is not
easy to hear the news that someone you care about has been sexually assaulted.
If we cannot even think of the agony of our
loved ones, how can we tolerate and ignore the pain and concerns of other
victims?
DEPRESSION
We never know what kind of depression a person
around is going through. It might not always be serious, but for a person who
is sexually assaulted, depression can be extremely hard to deal with. The
person may have a hard time getting out of bed, may have lost their appetite,
and may generally feel hopeless.
The effects of depression can be extremely
debilitating, making it hard for survivors to function in everyday life.
PTSD
Forgetting such a painful event is really very
difficult, and the person may constantly relive the trauma through nightmares
and flashbacks. This can make it hard for them to concentrate or even function
in their everyday life.
Most of the time, such people avoid places or
things that remind them of the incident. You may notice a change in behavior of
the female employees in your office, who generally avoid being alone in the
office after dusk. Did you ever try to ask her the reason?
SELF-BLAME
“It was my fault. I should have known better.
I shouldn’t have been wearing that outfit. I shouldn’t have been walking alone
at night. I shouldn’t have had so much to drink.”
The majority of the victims often blame
themselves for what happened. It is very important to make them realize that it
was not their fault and did nothing wrong.
HOW
CAN WE HELP PREVENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE?
We can make this world a better place by:
1.
BELIEVE THEM
The first and most important thing we can do
is to believe them. It is hard enough for them to come out and tell their
story. The last thing they need is to be doubted. Listen to them. Don’t try to
offer advice or tell them what they should do. Just listen and let them know
that you support them.
2.
RESPECT THEIR DECISIONS
Victims of sexual violence often face a lot of
pressure from family, friends, and society, in general, to report the incident
to the police or go through with a trial. However, it is important to respect
their decisions. Forcing them to do something they are not ready for can
further traumatize them.
3.
CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR THEM
Let them know that you are there for them and
that they can come to you anytime they need to talk. Create a safe space for
them where they can feel comfortable sharing their experiences.
4.
OFFER PRACTICAL SUPPORT
Provide them with practical support such as
help with transportation, child care, or housing if they need it. Let them know
that you are there for them and will help in any way you can.
5.
MAKING WORKPLACES SAFER
Encourage your employer to create a safe and
supportive environment for employees who have been sexually assaulted. This can
include things like having a policy in place that provides for paid leave to
victims of sexual violence so they can take the time they need to recover.
The workers, especially women, should know
that their reports will be taken seriously and dealt with appropriately.
Businesses should also have a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment and
assault.
2.
EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE
Spreading awareness about sexual violence is
crucial for prevention. We can help educate young people about this issue by
teaching them about consent, healthy relationships, and how to identify and
report sexual violence.
Share what you have learned with others to
help break the silence around sexual violence and raise awareness about this
important issue.
4.
HOLDING PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE
The one who makes other people's life
miserable should never go unpunished. Unfortunately, in many cases, they do. If
we do not stand up for the victims, then we are indirectly encouraging the
perpetrators, and the idea of creating safe spaces will never be realized.
Take
Away
Humanity has failed sexual assault victims for
too long. It is time that we take a stand and create safe spaces for them. Do
not forget the victims who suffer in the past, and do not ignore those in the
future.
Only then can we begin to heal the wounds of
the past and create a safer future for everyone.
References:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1261242/prevalence-of-sexual-violence-in-nigeria-by-state/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1261224/reported-cases-of-sexual-abuse-in-nigeria-by-gender/
https://www.svri.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2016-04-13/MentalHealthResponse.pdf
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