NHS in support pledge for sex assault victims
VICTIMS of sexual and domestic abuse are being targeted by a new campaign aimed at raising awareness of the help and support on offer.
While the majority of victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse are women and girls, health service leaders are encouraging anyone who needs support to turn to the NHS at one of the county’s 24-hour sexual assault referral centres.
The £20 million campaign comes after it was revealed that the number of people receiving help from referral centres halved after the first lockdown compared with 2019, despite official figures showing that domestic abuse and sexual assault had increased.
The referral centres offer confidential specialist, practical, medical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted, or abused, regardless of when it took place.
The plea comes after a new survey found two in five people do not know where to get help after being sexually assaulted, with 72 per cent unaware there are specialist sexual assault services offering confidential support.
More than half (56 per cent) of people who have experienced sexual assault say they did not seek help afterwards, while 46 per cent cite fear of being believed as the biggest barrier to accessing services.
The campaign has been backed by CJ, a sexual assault survivor from the East Midlands who is now working with the NHS as a member of the Health and Justice East Midlands Lived Experience panel.
“Someone who has experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence might be put off by going straight to the police, which can be really daunting,” she said. “That’s why sexual assault referral centres services are there to explain your options to you and ensure you get the support you need.
“Their support was really important to me, as they helped me to get counselling and they even provided me with a support worker who supported me one-to-one to help me make my own choices about my case.
“I would encourage anyone who’s experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence to come forward and speak to their local sexual assault referral centres service – whatever you tell them is confidential and they are here for you.” Matt Day, director of specialised commissioning and health and justice at NHS England and NHS improvement in the Midlands, said: “Sexual assault or domestic abuse can happen to anyone – of any age, ethnicity, gender or social circumstance. It could be a one-off event or happen repeatedly.
“But sadly, many people across the Midlands aren’t sure where to turn to get the help they need – which is why we want to ensure that they are aware that they can turn to specialised services in their area.”
More information on what help is available can be found at:
AS CASES ROSE DURING THE PANDEMIC, FEWER PEOPLE SOUGHT HELP
Their support was really important to me, as they helped me to get counselling
Sexual assault survivor CJ