Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

Sexual Assault Awareness

Sexual Assault Awareness Month highlights importance of openness, removing stigma

Apr 26, 2021 | 4:38 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP and the Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre (KSACC) are encouraging parents to talk to their children about personal boundaries during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Most of the time, sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows. For this reason, it is important that people, whether adults or children, feel safe enough to tell someone they trust.

KSACC sees hundreds of sexual assault survivors every year, but that’s likely only the tip of the iceberg.

“There’s a lot of shame and stigma around sexual assault and part of the reason for that is often when survivors come forward, they don’t get the responses they need. Maybe they’re not believed or they suffer some consequences or retribution for sharing their stories. A lot of people experience a lot of victim-blaming as well,” explained Alix Dolson, agency coordinator with KSACC.

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Dolson says one of the ways the issue of sexual assault can be addressed is through open conversation.

“That’s why things like Sexual Assault Awareness Month are really important, because it gets conversations going,” Dolson said. “It allows people the opportunity to tell stories about their own experiences, to learn more about supports available in the community and know that it’s okay to talk about sexual assault.”

It’s important to have these conversations with children from a young age. Cst. Crystal Evelyn with the Kamloops RCMP says using correct terms can help a child accurately report an assault.

“When we’re talking about private parts it’s important to — from the time the child is of a young age — call those parts by what their proper names are,” Evelyn said. “Sometimes when people use nicknames — I’ve heard cookie, I’ve heard other nicknames used for private parts — it can be hard for somebody to realize when a child is making a disclosure about a sexual assault.”

Evelyn says it’s important victims are comfortable to come forward to someone they feel safe with.

“They have to feel okay telling you about it and know that they’re not going to be punished and that you’re going to do the best that you can to protect them, that you’re going to protect them.”

Due to what Dolson calls ‘significant violence in our community’, it can be difficult to access one-to-one counselling immediately, but there are crisis services available.

“Those are always open to folks 24/7. We have group counselling options that people can get into fairly quickly. But, in terms of one-to-one support, unfortunately we do have a little bit of a waitlist, which just speaks to the demand and the rates of violence in our community.”

If you have been the victim of a sexual assault you can call the KSACC’s 24/7 telephone support line at 1 (888) 974-7278 for immediate support.

The Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre is presenting a virtual panel discussion on Friday (Apr. 30) to discuss available supports and how to respond to sexual assault.

Image Credit: KSACC