NHS promises sex crime victims a lifetime of mental health care
VICTIMS of sexual assaults will be offered mental health care for the rest of their lives, under a new NHS pledge.
Ministers said the plans were designed to offer more help to those suffering the “profound and long-lasting” trauma of sexual violence.
The number of rapes being reported to police has doubled in the past three years, with an 89 per cent rise in all sexual offences recorded in England.
Under today’s pledges, all survivors of such attacks will be guaranteed access to trauma care, including counselling, throughout their lifetime.
Official statistics show that 138,045 sexual offences were reported to police in the 12 months ending last September, the highest figure on record and a rise from 72,977 in 2004. The annual figures contained almost 48,934 reported rapes, more than twice the 24,043 in 2014.
The NHS five-year sexual assault strategy, backed by funding of £4 million a year, aims to improve access to support and mental health treatment centres for victims of such crimes.
Jackie Doyle-price, the minister for mental health and inequalities, said: “The scars left by sexual violence may
“The scars left by sexual violence may not always be visible, but they can be profound and long lasting’
not always be visible, but they can be profound and long lasting – it is my priority that we have the best possible support available for survivors.
“NHS England’s new sexual assault strategy and the commitment within it to provide care that is better signposted, more joined up and long lasting is essential so that all survivors can access the support they need for as long as they need it. The more confident survivors are that they will get the right care and treatment, the better.”
Kate Davies, NHS England director of sexual assault services, said: “The physical and emotional impact of sexual crimes lasts a lifetime, so it’s important that survivors can get the help they need, whenever they need it.
“The physical effect of these crimes is so shocking that it can be easy to overlook the long-term mental health needs, which may be less visible but not less harmful.”
Survivors would be offered support including counselling, psychotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy for as long as they wanted to access it, officials said.
Ms Davies added: “Across England, the NHS is expanding care for people with mental ill health, whatever their condition, and our new guarantee of personal, joined-up and lifelong care for those who have suffered sexual assault and abuse will build on excellent progress to address a big gap in care.”