The Prince George Sexual Assault Centre is seeing no shortage of foot traffic as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to persist.
Manager of Programs and Trauma Counselor, Angela Gallant told MyPGNow.com they’ve been run off their feet.
“We have seen, probably a conservative estimate of about a 40% increase in referrals here. You know, people are spending lots of time at home now and are isolated from their usual support.”
“Although we are seeing an increase in referrals, people might come forward and talk about it but then there isn’t a safe place for them to go home too.”
Gallant mentioned in some cases, sexual violence is taking place in the victim’s home.
She added when people are faced with knowing this type of abuse is around the corner, the victim is unable to get themselves out of the “Flight Freight” response when trauma happens.
“In order to really heal, that needs to settle back down inside of our body and when you are in a constant state of hypervigilance, awareness and not feeling safe, you can’t even get there,”
“When you equate it to somebody who is being abused in an intimate relationship, you can set them up with a safety plan and the information of the different types of abuse but when you send them back home to that abusive situation and they talk about a new sense of empowerment they have experienced that’s actually when the risk of violence increases significantly,” added Gallant.
She is hopeful the PG Sexual Assault Response Team, (PG SART) can get off the ground soon.
“Which is a partnership between ourselves, the Elizabeth Fry Society, the Prince George RCMP, and the hospital just to make sure that we are responding in a coordinated fashion and filling up any gaps that may otherwise result in an increase in violence.”
PG SART will provide trauma-informed support including 24/7 emergency sexual assault response, emotional and short-term crisis support, and information and accompaniment to the hospital.
In addition, the Sexual Assault Centre would love to see the provincial government invest in more subsidized housing options or shelters for those looking to flee abusive situations, similar to what we are seeing now with the homeless population who are among our most vulnerable.
“Housing is key. People are spending most of their energy just trying to survive right now and counseling for most is a luxury right now. That is not considered a necessity but you have to have some sort of a foundation before you can even engage in that process.”
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