The high prevalence of pre-existing mental health complaints in clients attending Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre: Implications for initial management and engagement with the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor service at the centre

Manning, Daisy; Majeed‐Ariss, Rabiya; Mattison, Michelle; White, Catherine

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2018.12.001

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The participants believed that a large proportion of survivors served experience co-occurring difficulties (e.g., preexisting mental health conditions). This belief is consistent with findings from the UK, indicating that 70% of survivors presenting for an examination at a SARC already experienced mental health issues prior to the assault (Brooker et al, 2019;Manning et al, 2019). Service providers in the present study also perceived these survivors as having increased or diversified support needs.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

What Characterizes Vulnerability? Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Service Provision for Survivors of Sexual Assault

Bach

Hansen

2021

J Interpers Violence

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Although research indicates that specialized sexual assault (SA) services are effective in terms of promoting postassault recovery and improving legal outcomes, little is known about how to best support survivors facing co-occurring difficulties and inequalities (e.g., preexisting mental health issues, substance abuse, poverty). This deficiency in knowledge was also expressed by service providers at Danish SA centers (SACs), who described this using the term “vulnerable survivors.” Therefore, the present study aims to address this knowledge gap by exploring (a) how service providers understand vulnerability in the context of SA and (b) how service provision is currently approached for these survivors. Interviews were conducted with 18 service providers representing five professional groups (psychologists, social workers, forensic doctors, nurses, police) and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. A total of eight themes emerged from the analysis, including service providers’ descriptions of what characterizes vulnerability in survivors and broader perspectives on service provision for these survivors. Survivors considered least likely to attain desired supports were also those perceived to be most vulnerable with regards to risk and experiences surrounding sexual victimization (e.g., individuals with preexisting mental health issues). Service providers also believed that a large proportion of those served experience ongoing vulnerabilities that are difficult to manage within existing support models. The results thus suggest that survivors’ needs cannot be met if vulnerabilities are overlooked or ignored. At the same time, the concept of vulnerability warrants caution since vulnerabilities are often placed within individual survivors, but the formal support system also appears vulnerable in its ability to meet the diverse needs and priorities of those served. The implications for SA services across the globe are discussed, including a need for more individually tailored and trauma-informed responses to SA that simultaneously address co-occurring difficulties and inequalities in survivors.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

What Characterizes Vulnerability? Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Service Provision for Survivors of Sexual Assault

Bach

Hansen

2021

J Interpers Violence

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“…Minors more often lived in residential or foster care, and less frequently had a psychiatric consultation than adults. These findings are confirmed by other European SAC studies reporting similar high vulnerability rates among victims (Bicanic et al, 2014;Brooker & Durmaz, 2015;Creighton & Jones, 2012;Majeed-Ariss et al, 2020;Manning et al, 2019;Nesvold et al, 2008;Vik et al, 2019;Zijlstra et al, 2017). As in other European countries, the Belgian SACCs will equally need to monitor and adapt care pathways for these vulnerable victims with specific needs.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…European SACs predominantly reach young women. Several studies have reported that an important share of SA victims has a prior vulnerability due to mental health issues, previous sexual victimization, cognitive or physical disabilities (Bicanic et al, 2014;Brooker & Durmaz, 2015;Brooker, Tocque, & Paul, 2018;Creighton & Jones, 2012;Larsen et al, 2015;Majeed-Ariss, Rodriguez, & White, 2020;Manning, Majeed-Ariss, Mattison, & White, 2019;Nesvold et al, 2008;Vik et al, 2019;Zijlstra et al, 2017). Service utilization is overall noted as high with a majority of victims receiving medical care, a forensic examination, follow-up by a case manager and reporting to the police (Bicanic et al, 2014;Kerr et al, 2003;Larsen et al, 2015;Nesvold et al, 2008Nesvold et al, , 2005Zijlstra et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Piloting sexual assault care centres in Belgium: who do they reach and what care is offered?

Baert

Gilles

Belle

et al. 2021

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background: Sexual assault (SA) is highly prevalent in Belgium. In order to mitigate the negative consequences for victims of acute SA, Sexual Assault Care Centres (SACCs) were piloted from October 2017 to October 2018 in three Belgian hospitals. SACCs offer medical and psychological care, forensic examination and the possibility to report to the police at the SACC. Objective: Aiming to improve SACC services, we quantitatively assessed the number and characteristics of victims attending the SACC, the SA they experienced, and the care they received over 12 months upon admission. Method: Data on victims presenting at the SACC were routinely collected in electronic patient files by the SACC personnel between 25 October 2017 and 31 October 2019. These data were analysed in IBM SPSS Statistics 25. Results: Within the first year 931 victims attended the SACCs. Mean age was 24.5 years (SD = 12.8), and one-third were under 18. The majority were female (90.5%) and 63.1% presented for rape. About one-third of the victims were considered vulnerable due to previous SA (35.6%), prior psychiatric consultation (38.7%) or disability (8.5%). The assailant was known to the victim in 59.2% of the cases. Of all SACC presentations, 35.2% self-referred to the SACC while 40.9% were referred by the police. Two out of three victims attended the SACC within 72 h post-assault. Respectively 74.7% of victims received medical care, 60.6% a forensic examination, 50.2% psychological care, and 68.7% reported to the police. Conclusion: Despite the absence of promotion campaigns, the SACCs received a high number of victims during the pilot year. Use of acute and follow-up services was high, although new approaches to offer more accessible psychological support should be explored. The big proportion of vulnerable victims warrants careful monitoring and adaptation of care pathways. Pilotaje de Centros de Atención de Asalto Sexual en Bélgica: ¿A Quiénes Llegan y qué Atenciones son Ofrecidas?Antecedentes: El asalto sexual (SA en si sigla en inglés) es altamente prevalente en Bélgica. Para mitigar las consecuencias negativas para las víctimas de SA agudo, los Centros de Atención de Asalto Sexual (SACCs en su sigla en inglés) fueron piloteados desde octubre de 2017 hasta octubre 2018 en tres hospitales belgas. Los SACCs ofrecen atención médica y psicológica, examen forense y la posibilidad de reportar a la policía en el SACC. Objetivo: Para mejorar los servicios SACC, medimos cuantitativamente el número y las características de las víctimas atendidas por el SACC, el SA que experimentaron y la atención que recibieron a lo largo de los 12 meses desde su admisión. Método: Fueron recolectados rutinariamente los datos en las víctimas que se presentaron en el SACC por el personal de SACC en los archivos electrónicos de los pacientes entre el 25 de octubre 2017 y 31 de octubre de 2019. Estos datos fueron analizados en el Programa Estadístico IBM SPSS 25. Resultados: Dentro del primer año, 931 victimas asistieron a los SCCs. La edad media fue 24,5 (DE = 12.8), ...

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“…More recent research on pre-existing mental health conditions in SARC attenders confirms the findings from the study above (10) . In the report of the Manchester SARC 69% of SARC attenders self-reported a pre-existing mental health condition most often depression and anxiety.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

The contribution of mental health services to a new strategic direction for sexual assault and abuse services

Brooker

Edmondson

Hughes

2019

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine

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A new strategy for sexual assault and abuse services was published by NHS England earlier this year. It called for better coordination of services along the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) pathway following a sexual assault including mental health services for children and young people and adults. Previous research has highlighted Highlights  There is new national strategy for sexual assault and abuse in England  The strategy promotes partnership  Mental Health (MH) Services are key partners for SARCs  The study showed that very few MH services have pathways with SARCs  Factors that promoted pathways were explored Highlights (for review) Data Statement Click here to download Data Statement: Data Statement.docx

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The high prevalence of pre-existing mental health complaints in clients attending Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre: Implications for initial management and engagement with the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor service at the centre

Cited by 17 publications

References 15 publications

What Characterizes Vulnerability? Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Service Provision for Survivors of Sexual Assault

What Characterizes Vulnerability? Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Service Provision for Survivors of Sexual Assault

Piloting sexual assault care centres in Belgium: who do they reach and what care is offered?

The contribution of mental health services to a new strategic direction for sexual assault and abuse services

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