Parkland urges awareness, action in prevention of sexual assault
VIP/Rape Crisis Center provides comprehensive assistance to child and adult victims
DALLAS – Do these statistics alarm or surprise you?
- Every 92 seconds an American is sexually assaulted
- Every 9 minutes a child is sexually assaulted in the U.S.
- Eight out of 10 rapes are committed by someone known to the victim
- College-age men and women are at high risk of sexual violence
- More than 6.3 million Texans have experienced some form of sexual assault in their lifetime
In addition to these disturbing facts, said Melissa Reilly, LCSW, Director of the Victim Intervention Program (VIP)/ Rape Crisis Center at Parkland Health & Hospital System, sexual assault, including childhood sexual abuse, is an underreported crime. It’s estimated that more than 91 percent of sexual assault victims in Texas do not report to law enforcement.
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center has designated April as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month in recognition of the widespread prevalence of sexual assault nationwide. Theme of this year’s observance is “Awareness to Action.”
“In Texas, two in five women and one in five men have been sexually assaulted,” Reilly stated. “Additionally, one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Sexual violence crosses all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds. Children are not immune from this type of assault.
At Parkland, every person seeking medical care of any type is screened for abuse, whether it’s physical, sexual or emotional. Parkland’s VIP/Rape Crisis Center offers support to children, teens, adults and families by providing free counseling, 24-hour response for victims seen at Parkland facilities, and help finding emergency shelters, legal assistance and other services. Spanish-speaking staff is available and services in other languages are offered through medical interpreters.
Parkland’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program provides specialized care to victims of sexual assault presenting in the Parkland Emergency Department. SANEs are registered nurses who have completed education and clinical preparation in the medical forensic care of the patient who has experienced sexual assault or abuse.
“Parkland’s goal is to address the medical, social and emotional needs of a sexual assault survivor. This comprehensive approach assists the patient in his or her recovery following the assault,” Reilly said. “After a sexual assault, survivors experience different emotions including fear and depression, changes in their behaviors and often feel disconnected as they have difficulty trusting others.”
In addition to psychological and social impacts, sexual abuse often leads to medical problems for victims which are often overlooked. A 2015 report compiled by the University of Texas at Austin found that physical, mental and emotional problems that limit activities are nearly twice as prevalent among sexual assault victims as among non-victims. Sexual assault victims are almost twice as likely as non-victims to suffer from asthma, frequent headaches, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic pain.
The study stated the financial impact to the Lone Star State of sexual assault is conservatively estimated at $8 billion annually.
Parkland’s VIP/Rape Crisis Center began serving the community 21 years ago and has assisted thousands of survivors of sexual assault since opening in 1998. In 2018, the Center served 2,683 victims of sexual assault, family violence or assault. Twenty percent were male, 80 percent female. A total of 5,000 counseling hours were provided.
“Educating the community about the prevalence of sexual assault is one way to help prevent it,” Reilly said. “We want individuals, families and the community to know about the resources available to them. Promoting safe behaviors, healthy relationships and equitable policies will help keep everyone, including children, safer.”
Some of ways to turn “awareness to action,” according to experts like Reilly:
- Speak out – use your voice to spread awareness about sexual violence.
- Support survivors and yourself – spend time in nature, with supportive friends, journaling, or doing something else that makes you feel strong, healthy and cared for.
- Stay educated – learn the facts, laws and policies about sexual assault in your area.
- Take action – volunteer at or donate to organizations supporting survivors of sexual assault; learn about self-defense and healthy relationships and teach your children ways to stay safe.
- Todayand every day – If you or a loved one is in an abusive situation and needs immediate assistance, call the Parkland Rape Crisis Center hotline at 214-590-0430. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 by phone at 800-656-HOPE.
To make an appointment with a counselor or find out more information about Parkland’s services, please call the VIP/Rape Crisis Center at 214-590-2926.
