Safety for Survivors: Care and Treatment for Military Sexual Trauma

 “I was sexually assaulted by the same people who trained with me. We wore the same uniform. We worked for the same goals. I struggle every day to be proud of my service.” – Testimony from a Military Sexual Assault Survivor On Friday, July 19th the House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs held a hearing on mental and medical services for sexual assault survivors. During the hearing, veteran sexual assault survivors testified that the military and VA failed to provide adequate, appropriate, and timely access to services for sexual assault victims with post-traumatic stress disorder. Sexual assault continues to be stigmatized in the United States military. The Department of Defense estimates that 26,000 enlisted military personnel are sexually assaulted annually. Despite these numbers, only 3,000 report offenses. Testimony from one survivor echoed all too common occurrences of a flippant culture toward sexual assault within the military. “ When I retold my story to my provider at the VA, I recounted the incidence in detail. His response? He took a long sigh, looked at me directly and asked me ‘ Are you sure you were actually assaulted?’” While the majority of survivors are women, men have also reported incidences of sexual assault.  Veteran Brian Lewis, a former sailor who was beaten and raped by a male senior officer testified, “ There is only one VA available in the United States that treats male survivors of sexual assault. Male survivors are equal to fem...
Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Tags: Access Advocacy Men's Health Mental Health Source Type: blogs