By Antonia Ehlers
Prom, graduation, and entering the college years is an exciting time for teens and parents, if not a bit nerve wracking.
As exciting as it all is, it’s also an important time for families to be aware of teen sexual abuse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 percent of women and 33 percent of men will experience sexual violence in their lifetimes.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
“Prevention is the first goal, but post-assault resources are also available,” said Katrina Rapa, MD, Kaiser Permanente East Bay physician and lead for Kaiser Permanente’s Family Violence Prevention Program. “Through this annual observance, we empower ourselves to become a safer community that supports survivors. It also reminds us that when one of us is impacted, we are all impacted.”
Sexual assault includes rape, attempted rape, and any other forced sexual contact. It is estimated that one in three teens will be physically, sexually or verbally abused. Often, sexual assaults are committed by a partner, close friend or family member.
“About 80 percent of survivors experience assault before the age of 25,” said Naomi Adler, MD, a Kaiser Permanente Richmond emergency room physician. “Nearly half of those have been assaulted before the age of 18.”
It is extremely important for parents to keep open lines of communication with their children and teens. It’s also important to have conversations about consent, especially with teenage boys, and making sure boys and girls both understand how to develop healthy, safe dating, and intimate relationship skills.
“If your teenager suddenly becomes depressed and withdrawn, ask what’s going on,” Adler advised. “Teenagers often feel that a sexual assault was their fault. Remember, no means no – even if someone has been intimate with a partner in the past.”
Doctors say it’s normal to feel sad or frightened after a sexual assault. In fact, feelings of guilt often prevent people from reporting an incident. Many people do not report sexual assaults because of fear or shame.
“If there has been a sexual assault, it’s important to seek medical care and report it.”
“If there has been a sexual assault, it’s important to seek medical care and report it,” Adler said. “Kaiser Permanente physicians collaborate with patients to help them make decisions about their medical care after an assault.”
If someone has been assaulted, it’s important to seek medical care to get assistance on reporting the assault, and address concerns related to infection, pregnancy, and emotional and mental issues.
Doctors can prescribe antibiotics to fight sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and medicine to prevent HIV infection. They also can also prescribe emergency contraception, which delays or prevents ovulation. They can also help to refer survivors of an assault to mental health resources.
After a traumatic sexual assault, counseling can help victims to heal. In addition, these community resources can be of assistance:
The National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, confidential counseling. The hotline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673).
The National Center for Victims of Crime assists victims of assault from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., EST. The hotline phone number is 1-855-4-VICTIM (1-855-484-2846).
This report was submitted for publication by Kaiser Permanente of Northern California.
