Sexual violence is a serious public health issue that affects millions of men and women. Just in the United States, 1 in 6 men and 1 in 3 women reported experiencing sexual violence involving physical contact at some point in their life.
As startling as that statistic may sound, it doesn’t capture the true magnitude of the problem as many victims do not tell police, family or friends about the incident.
In an effort to draw attention to the pervasive problem, April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Center for Disease Control provided a bit of information to help stop sexual violence before it begins.
According to the CDC, sexual violence is any sexual activity where consent is not freely given. This includes completed or attempted sex acts that are against the victims will or involve a victim who is unable to truly consent because they’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Other forms of sexual violence include non-physically pressured unwanted sex, unwanted sexual contact such as intentional sexual touching and non-contact, unwanted sexual experiences such as verbal harassment.
Unfortunately, this is a crisis that individuals may face at any age. Children, adolescents, adults and the elderly can all fall prey to attackers. It can have a life-long impact that affects health in multiple ways that can include chronic pain, headaches, mental health issues and sexually transmitted disease.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, don’t be afraid to reach out for assistance. For helpful resources or to learn more information visit the CDC Sexual Violence Prevention Page.
