April Is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Which Is Something I Feel Incredibly Strongly About. So Lets

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is something I feel incredibly strongly about. So lets talk about warning signs & statistics shall we !!

1 in every 4 young girls in the will be sexually assaulted in their life time.

1 in every 6 young boys will be sexually assaulted in their life time.

1 in 5 grown women will be sexually assualted in their life time.

1 in 71 grown men will be sexually assaulted in their life time.

Nearly 1 in every 10 victims, their perpetrator was their relationship partner. NO means NO. Even in a relationship, consent needs to be expressed CLEARLY and WITHOUT coercion.

In 8 out of 10 rape cases the victim is known to and either aquatinted with or related to their perpetuater

Rape is the MOST undereported crime, 63% of sexual assaults go unreported & 12% of child sexual abuse cases go unreported.

81% of women & 35% of men who are sexually abused report it having extreme long term effects on their lives.

The cost of healthcare for sexually abused women is 16% higher than men.

SEXUAL ABUSE IS NOT UNCOMMON.

Physical warning signs in children

- Genital pain or itching

- Extreme night terrors

- Frequent stomach illness

- Loss of appetite & trouble swallowing

- Frequent UTIs

- Torn, stained, or bloody undergarments

Behavioral warning signs in children

- Fear of going to sleep

- Fear of certain people or places

- Age regression

- Abnormal interest in sex or sexual behavior

- Bedwetting, especially in the case of a child in which this is abnormal

- Using new words for their private areas

- Sudden mood swings (rage, fear, withdrawal)

Unfortunately, signs of sexual abuse in adults can’t always be clear, just as it can’t always be clear in children. Please keep an eye on ALL of your loved ones. Make sure if your friend is going out on a new date you have his/her location & you know their plans. If your children are going to a friends house, please take the time to get to know the parents. If your children express discomfort or discontent with a relative, please do not force them to be around them.

Sexual assault can happen to ANYONE, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE. If you or someone you know is struggling with lasting mental health effects from sexual abuse please reach out to someone.

National Sexual Abuse Hotline: 1-800-656-4673