Trauma informed approach: An innovative tool for assisting sexual assault survivors

14^th World Congress on Healthcare & Technologies

July 22-23, 2019 | London, UK

Kelly Parsley

Carroll College, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Health Med Informat

Abstract :

Background: W.H.O. estimates that �??1 in 3 (35%) of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partners sexual violence in their lifetime�?� and Amnesty International (AI) concurs: �??at least one out of every three women worldwide has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime.�?� While these numbers are deplorable, few medical professionals have learned skills to support these victims.

Aim/Purpose: This poster will be to share with medical personnel key information about trauma-informed ways to support rape survivors that include

�?� Creating care based on respect and physical/emotional safety

�?� Understanding of how brains function when confronted with trauma

�?� Avoiding re-traumatization by providing services that meet survivor�??s needs

Methods/Innovation: This poster will rely on trauma-informed academic research on sexual violence which includes discussions of

Safety: the ability to seek help knowing that those helping with keep information confidential, will work to keep them safe, and will not respond to them by victim blaming.

Empowerment: the ability to determine when to seek medical, legal, and social service assistance.

Control: the ability to make choices for themselves. When agencies make decisions, survivors continue to be �??controlled�?� in the same way a perpetrator controlled them.

Voice: the ability to tell their stories to medical personnel who won�??t blame them for the assault but instead will actively listen.

Justice: the ability to define justice. It may include court hearings, or something as simple as safe housing, alternate routes to work, and/or the ability to work at a different branch of the same business.

Finding/Impact: By implementing a trauma-informed response to sexual violence, agencies can better serve survivors, speed their recovery, and avoid inadvertently re-traumatizing victims.

Implication: Research suggest that trauma-informed approaches can reduce stress, speed healing, reduce substance abuse, reduce depression and PTSD, promote psychological well-being, and help victims become functioning members of society again.

Biography :