Breaking the Silence, Building Resilience: Honoring Mental Health and Sexual Assault Awareness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to shine a light on the importance of emotional well-being. But it’s also a powerful moment to acknowledge a deeply interconnected issue: the impact of sexual assault on mental health.

While these two topics are often treated separately, for many survivors of sexual violence, mental health struggles are an ongoing reality. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, dissociation, and suicidal thoughts are common after trauma—and yet, so many survivors suffer in silence.

At the Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocacy Center, we know that healing is not linear—and it’s never something you have to do alone. As May arrives, we are reminded of the deep interconnection between Mental Health Awareness Month and the ongoing need for Sexual Assault Awareness. These are not separate issues. They are threads in the same fabric—woven into the lives of countless survivors, advocates, and loved ones.

For many, mental health struggles do not arise in a vacuum. They are shaped by trauma, injustice, and lived experience. Sexual violence is one of the most devastating forms of trauma, and it often brings lasting emotional and psychological wounds. During this month, we’re not just raising awareness, we’re calling for compassion, action, and justice.

The Lasting Impact of Sexual Assault on Mental Health

Survivors of sexual assault face a wide spectrum of mental health challenges. These struggles are not weaknesses; they are responses to trauma that the mind and body have endured. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center:

• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime.

• More than 94% of women who are raped experience symptoms of PTSD within two weeks.

• Survivors are significantly more likely to experience depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, substance use disorders, and chronic health issues.

Sexual assault can shake a person’s sense of safety in the world. It can alter how they see themselves, their bodies, and their relationships. And it doesn’t always “look like trauma” from the outside. Many survivors continue to work, study, and care for others while silently managing panic attacks, insomnia, self-blame, and overwhelming grief.

Sexual violence doesn’t just hurt in the moment—it reshapes how a person feels about themselves, others, and the world. Survivors may experience:

• Hypervigilance or fear in everyday situations

• Nightmares or flashbacks

• Shame and self-blame

• Trust issues and relationship struggles

• Withdrawal or emotional numbness

These are not signs of weakness, they're normal reactions to a horrific violation. And yet, survivors often feel isolated, especially when systems fail them or loved ones don’t know how to help.

Why May Matters: Raising Awareness for Healing and Change

Mental Health Awareness Month offers a crucial opportunity to talk openly about these experiences—and to dismantle the shame that keeps survivors in the shadows. Likewise, Sexual Assault Awareness efforts remind us that trauma is still widespread, still underreported, and still too often met with disbelief or dismissal.

Together, these awareness efforts ask us to:

• Believe survivors

• Invest in trauma-informed mental health care

• End the stigma around asking for help

• Build safer, more supportive communities

• Recognize that healing is a social justice issue

Survivors are not broken. They’re navigating a world that often doesn’t make space for their pain.

What Healing Really Looks Like

Healing from sexual trauma is not one-size-fits-all. It can look like a survivor telling their story for the first time—or choosing to stay private. It might mean seeking therapy, connecting with a peer group, or simply surviving each day.

At the Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocacy Center, we witness this strength every day in the people we serve. We see it in the courage of a survivor walking into their first counseling session. In the comfort found within support circles. In the advocacy efforts of those using their voice for change.

Healing is:

• Messy but meaningful

• Nonlinear but real

• Quiet but powerful

And most importantly: it is possible.

How We Support Survivors and Promote Mental Wellness

Our mission at the Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocacy Center is to ensure that everyone, especially survivors of sexual violence, has access to the mental health support they deserve. This month and every month, we offer:

💬 Trauma-Informed Therapy

Free, accessible counseling services are rooted in understanding the unique impact of trauma.

🤝 Survivor Support Groups

Safe, confidential spaces to share, listen, and heal with others who understand.

📚 Education and Advocacy

Community workshops, professional training, and resources that help break down stigma and foster empathy.

🧭 Crisis Navigation

Help with finding legal support, emergency shelter, or basic needs assistance in times of crisis.

💡 Youth and Prevention Programs

Early intervention, consent education, and youth-focused mental health awareness in schools and youth centers.

 

How You Can Help Create a Safer, Healthier Community

You don’t have to be a therapist or survivor to be part of the solution. Here’s how you can take action:

• Listen without judgment. Hold space for survivors, without trying to “fix” or explain their pain.

• Speak out. Challenge harmful myths, victim-blaming language, and silence in your circles.

• Give. Your donations fund mental health care, crisis support, and education for those most in need.

• Volunteer. Whether it’s helping with events, providing admin support, or leading peer groups, your time matters.

• Educate yourself. Learn about consent, trauma, and how to support someone who discloses sexual violence. Educate yourself on trauma responses that don’t always “look like” distress.

• Support trauma-informed care. Advocate for services that treat the whole person, not just the symptoms.

• Believe survivors. It sounds simple, but it’s everything.

 

To Survivors Reading This: Your Healing Is Valid

If you are a survivor, we want you to know this: WE BELIEVE YOU.

Whether your trauma is recent or decades old, you deserve support.

Whether you speak openly or keep your story close to your heart, you are strong.

Whether you’re struggling or thriving, you are not alone.

YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS. YOUR STORY MATTERS. YOU MATTER.

Resources for Support

If you or someone you love needs help, please reach out:

• 🧭 The Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocacy Center 24/7 Hotline: (706) 419-8775

• 📞 RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

• 📞 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 anytime

• 🌐 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): www.nami.org

Let’s Build a Culture of Care

This May, we commit to breaking the silence, dismantling shame, and nurturing healing. Let’s move beyond awareness into action. Let’s ensure every survivor knows that support is out there—and that their mental health is a priority, not an afterthought.

Because healing isn’t just personal—it’s collective. And together, we can build a world where safety, support, and mental wellness are within reach for everyone.