A Winnipeg-based social agency is looking to make assault survivors aware of the help and support they can take. While sexual assault is a type of interpersonal violence more prevalent than all would hope, this initiative is trying to help individuals connect with the number of support mechanisms available.
The Sexual Assault Crisis Program uses a trauma-informed definition of sexual assault. This means that the program focuses on what individuals experience, and their inner understandings of the event. They believe that this approach translates well into allowing community members to access support when needed.
The Program wants individuals to understand that the healing process is different for all individuals, and there is no natural progression one is supposed to take. The Program helps offer connections and counselling to individuals, in their personal path.
The goal of the program is to normalize that it can take time to recover and heal after one has been sexually assaulted and that the trauma from an incident like this can enter into numerous aspects of life. They hope that communicating this can help individuals feel more comfortable with their personal recovery journey.
