Impact of Sexual Assault On Teens and Tips For Prevention

1. The Impact of Sexual Assault on Teens and Tips for Prevention
Rachel Freeman, LCSW, and
Sharon Travis
Sexual Assault Center
November 24, 2014

2. Reality Check
O1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18 1
O1 in every 6 women will be sexually assaulted at some point in her lifetime 2
OIn approximately ¾ of child sexual abuse cases, the offender is someone known to the victim 3
OApproximately 2.78 million men have been victimized by rape or sexual assault 4
OChildren under age 17 make up 71% of all sex crime victims. 5
O80% of children who have been sexually abused have some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. 6
O80% of children who have been sexually abused have some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. 6
OSexual assault is one of the most under reported crimes, with 54% still being left unreported. 7
OAll children, both boys and girls, are vulnerable to sexual abuse, regardless of race, ethnicity, and economic background. 8

3. What is Trauma?
“Overwhelming, uncontrollable experiences that psychologically impact victims by creating in them feelings of helplessness, vulnerability, loss of safety and loss of control”
Beverly James, Treating Traumatized Children: New Insights and Creative Interventions
“Trauma by definition involves speechless terror: patients often are simply unable to put what they feel into words and are left with intense emotions simply without being able to articulate what’s going on.”
Van der Kolk, 2002

4. Short & Long Term Effects of Sexual Assault in Adolescents
OPost Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD symptoms
OAnger, Fear, Anxiety
ODepression
OLow self-esteem and self- image
OBehavior problems
OSudden changes in behavior
OTrust Issues / Relationship Problems
OWithdrawal
OSleep Disturbances
OHypervigilant Behaviors
OCutting / Self-mutilating behaviors
OChange in interests, likes and dislikes
OChanges in dress
OHigh risk behaviors
OPromiscuity/Sexual Reactivity, Drugs, Alcohol, Cutting, etc.

5. Physical and Neurobiological Effects of Trauma
OHeadaches
OStomach Aches
OTightening of Chest
OShortness of Breath
OFatigue
OExcess energy
OExcessive hunger
OLoss of appetite
OBedwetting
OAmygdala Alarm
OLoss of Stimulus Discrimination
OIncreased sensitivity to touch
ODecreased reactivity to physical injury
OUnconscious flinch reaction

6. Special Considerations for Adolescents
OCurrent developmental stage (ego identity vs. role confusion)
OSearch for independence and autonomy
OBlack and white thinking
OPeer pressure
OHigh risk behaviors
OCommunication and support
OSexuality issues and concerns

7. Primary Prevention
OWhen the macrosystem is based on equality, respect and a reverence for all members of society, this is one way it can serve to prevent the exploitation and abuse of children.
(Based on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model of Prevention.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xYeAmafTGCA
Upstream Public Health

8. Primary Prevention Socio-Ecological Model
Individual
Relationship
Community
Societal
(Based on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model of Prevention.)

9. Be Empowered: Sex Positive
Encourage Healthy Relationships
Educate about Consent (Moral and Legal)
Teach Healthy Social Media Skills
Bystander Intervention
Engaging Males

10. What is Healthy Sexuality?
“Sexual health...includes the ability to understand and weigh the risks, responsibilities, outcomes and impacts of sexual actions and to practice abstinence when appropriate. It includes freedom from sexual abuse and discrimination and the ability of individuals to integrate their sexuality into their lives, derive pleasure from it, and to reproduce if they so choose.”
-Surgeon General David Satcher’s
 “Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior” (June, 2001)

11. Healthy Sexuality/Relationships
OGood Sex
OBad Sex
ORegretted Sex
OAbusive Sex

12. Consent
CLEAR Willing
Consent is active Not Pressured
Coherent ONGOING
Have Capacity Continuous
(age or not under the influence)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJOKRYbgDh8
What is Consent?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD2EooMhqRI
Laci Green Consent

13. Bystander Intervention
Recognize situations and Be willing to HELP! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUj2OHLAG3w

14. Male Engagement (Chris Brown Case Study)
Mike Bertha, The Guardian
POSTED: MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013, 11:52 AM
Brown confesses that he lost his virginity when he was only 8. He seems to think that that's totally normal.
He lost his virginity when he was eight years old, to a local girl who was 14 or 15. Seriously? "Yeah, really. Uh- huh." He grins and chuckles. "It's different in the country." Brown grew up with a great gang of boy cousins, and they watched so much porn that he was raring to go. "By that point, we were already kind of like hot to trot, you know what I'm saying? Like, girls, we weren't afraid to talk to them; I wasn't afraid. So, at eight, being able to do it, it kind of preps you for the long run, so you can be a beast at it. You can be the best at it."

15. Be Empowered: What Can We Do?
Promote and Teach Healthy Sexuality
Engage Males
Encourage Healthy Relationships
Educate about Consent (Moral and Legal)
Teach Healthy Communication Skills (including Social Media
Bystander Intervention
Know how to respond if a teen you know discloses sexual abuse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZxv5WCWivM
Needed Response

16. The healing begins when you believe…
The best prognosis for healing is when a teen is believed and supported!

17. The Sexual Assault Center
OThe mission of the SAC is to end sexual violence and to provide healing to children, adults and families affected by sexual assault through counseling and education.
OApproximately 600 individuals receive treatment at SAC annually
OClients served include Children/Teens (3-18 years old), Adult Survivors of childhood sexual abuse, Rape survivors, Non-Offending Caregivers of sexually abused children/teens, and siblings/spouses/partners of survivors
OFor more information call 615-259-9055. For a therapy appointment dial extension 335

18. SAC Services
OIndividual, Group and Family Therapy
O11 Therapists on staff
OAdvocacy Services (including legal/court advocacy and hospital accompaniment)
OSafe@Last and Be. School Curricula
OCommunity Engagement, Awareness, and Outreach Activities
O24-hour Crisis Support Line 1-800-879- 1999

19. Citations
1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2005). Adverse Childhood Experiences Study: Data and Statistics. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Retrieved January 12, 2009 from: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/ace/prevalence.htm
2.National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey. 1998.
3.Finkelhor, D. & Ormrod, R. (2000). Characteristics of Crimes Against Juveniles. Juvenile Justice Bulletin. (Publication No. NCJ 179034). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
4.National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey. 1998.; U.S. Department of Justice. 2003 National Crime Victimization Survey. 2003.

20. Citations
5.Finkelhor, D. & Ormrod, R. (2000). Characteristics of Crimes Against Juveniles. Juvenile Justice Bulletin. (Publication No. NCJ 179034). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
6.Shanta R. Dube, MPH, Robert F. Anda, MD, MS, Charles L. Whitfield, MD, David W. Brown, MSPH, MS, Vincent J. Felitti, MD, Maxia Dong, MD, PhD, Wayne H. Giles, MD, MS. (2005). Long-Term Consequences of Childhood Sexual Abuse by Gender of Victim. American Journal of Preventative Medicine. 28(5):430–438.
7.Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey: 2006-2010.
8.National Child Traumatic Stress Network (2009). CaringForKIDS: Child Sexual Abuse Fact Sheet. www.nctsn.org.
9.World Health Organization, 2002