#CheckWithMeFirst: Making a difference to survivors of sexual abuse and violence 

February 9, 2022

Survivors of rape and sexual assault are much more likely to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder resulting in flashbacks, panic attacks, nightmares and depression.

Often when survivors of sexual assault need to visit a medical professional, memories can surface due to the nature of the examination and lack of control the person might feel. This can be so debilitating, that many survivors of sexual assault actively avoid seeking medical attention, making their condition worse. Survivors often make a choice not to disclose their experience of sexual assault or abuse to the authorities, and many survivors do not want their medical records to contain this information.

Three simple steps that healthcare professionals can take which make a difference to survivors’ experiences:

1. Check that the service-user is happy before proceeding with and during each step of the appointment/procedure.
2. Explain what you need to do at each step, and give the person opportunities to ask questions.
3. Reassure the person that they can stop the procedure at any time. Let them know that they are in control.

If you would like to take part in the training workshops, please find the booking instructions here: Training and support to become a trauma informed champion supporting survivors of sexual abuse

The workshops will be accessible to Trust colleagues and will cover trauma-informed practice, the prevalence of sexual abuse and how this impacts the way that survivors access healthcare services, handling disclosures, and how to refer survivors to specialist support.