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When you live in a Valley, you get familiar with mountains. Since we're part of the Flathead Valley community, when we choose to honor survivors of domestic and violence, we call it a Summit -- a time to pause and reflect on how far we've come and a chance to gain perspective on where we are going.
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May is Mental Health Awareness month, and we at the Abbie are thinking about the survivors we've worked with whose abusive partners blamed their violence on mental health illness.
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The Abbie Shelter participated in this year's Walk the Walk event sponsored by Flathead Valley Community College.
Read MoreYou might be the first person someone tells immediately after being sexually assaulted. Alternatively, a survivor might also wait weeks, months, or even years to share their story. Both are common reactions. If someone you know tells you their story, here are examples of supportive things you can say:
Everyone heals in their own time and their own way, and the path isn’t always a straight line. You don’t need to do it alone — you can:
Join us for this FREE event as we create a safe space for survivors of domestic and sexual violence to explore, expand, and empower their path to recovery.
Rebecca Johns-Living an Integrated Life: A Commitment to Well Being
Sexual violence undermines the values of strong communities. Online comments that blame victims contribute to a broader climate in which sexual violence is tolerated and not taken seriously. Help end rape culture by taking action online:
Definition of Sexual Assault (Merriam-Webster Dictionary):
Illegal sexual contact that usually involves force upon a person without consent or is inflicted upon a person who is incapable of giving consent (as because of age or physical or mental incapacity) or who places the assailant in a position of trust or authority.
1 in 4 girls are raped in college.
More boys are raped in college than in prison.
Victim's often freeze, rather than fight or flee, during a sex assault.
There's no "typical" response to a sex assault, and victim behavior often differs from our expectations.
The rate of false reporting is extremely low, around 2% (Lisak, D. (2007). False allegations of rape: A critique of Kanin. Sexual Assault Report
Victims of sexual assault need and deserve nonjudgmental support. Always start by believing a sexual assault victim. Support them to get the help and resources they need to be safe.