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Sexual Assault Awareness Month: History, significance and 3 ways to heal

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a time to support survivors and increase awareness to prevent sexual violence

The goals of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a student-led awareness month encouraging students to prevent, intervene, and support sexual assault. The interpersonal violence team at CAPS is hosting events to equip students with the skills they need to make the campus a safer place.

The theme is "Prevent, Intervene, and Support." The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services is supporting public awareness campaigns, webinars, social media events, blogs, and radio shows to promote sexual assault awareness and prevention.

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History and significance of SAAM

Activists for sexual assault prevention began to gain traction in the 1940s and 1950s with the civil rights era, championed by Black women and women of color, NSVRC reported. SAAM was nationally observed in the year 2001, but even before that, the activists held protests, marches, and ceremonies to raise awareness of sexual assault, often over the course of a week or throughout the month of April.

It is important to raise awareness about the occurrence of sexual assault and to inform people and communities about its prevention.

A Twitter user posted, "April 2023 marks the official 22nd anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). This month is about awareness and prevention of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse and how to support those affected by it. Let's call attention, do our part, and find ways to advocate for awareness and prevention to end sexual violence."

Ways to heal from sexual assault

1. Therapy 

Mental health professionals provide support and strategies to heal. Find a trauma-trained therapist to provide support and strategies to aid in healing, without reliving the trauma. Keep in mind that a trauma-trained therapist won't demand that a client discuss the specifics of the horrific incident or endure an intense reliving of the trauma, verywell health reported.

2. Peer support

Peer support can be an excellent way to discover resources, feel less alone, and assist others. Join a support group to meet people who have experienced similar things. There are both physical and online support groups available, such as those offered by Sexual Assault Support Services.

3. Helplines

Call 1-800-656-HOPE to reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline for free, confidential support available around the clock. On the website of the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), you can also speak with a qualified staff member to get crisis support. On the RAINN website, there are a lot of additional tools and organizations.