What is Rape?

Rape is a form of sexual assault, usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person’s consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or against a person who is incapable of giving valid consent. The term rape is sometimes used interchangeably with the term sexual assault.

Rape, assault by penetration and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent are all criminal offences, even if the victim is in a relationship with the perpetrator.

The Psychological Impact of Rape

Most victims of rape undergo a range of psychological and emotional reactions and ongoing mental health issues. Short-term reactions often include shock, denial, disbelief, fear, confusion, anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, and self-blame. Long-term reactions may include symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), problems in intimate relationships, and difficulty trusting others.

Rape has a significant trauma. Victims may experience flashbacks and nightmares, as well as intrusive memories that they were unable to cope with before now resistant to being dealt with due to the severely traumatic nature of the experience. Victims may feel overwhelming anxiety and guilt, or be ashamed of the assault, often blaming themselves for what happened, even though it was not their fault.

In the aftermath of a rape, victims may feel especially vulnerable and unsafe, with even things like leaving the house to do basic errands feeling like a huge effort. This can be overwhelming and can make them feel as if they are not coping with everyday life.

The Support Available for Victims

Victims of rape need to be provided with support and access to mental health services. The first step is for them to find a compassionate person whom they can trust, who will listen and support them without judging, to whom they can disclose their experience and through whom they can receive whatever help they may need.

For many people, talking to someone in a mental health team can be very therapeutic, allowing victims to work through their feelings and process their experience of rape. Mental health professionals can offer cognitive behaviour therapy and other evidence-based clinical approaches to help victims of rape cope with their psychological and emotional responses and make sense of their experience. Victims can also benefit from psychotherapy, which can help them gain a sense of understanding and control, as well as allow them to integrate the experience into their life narrative and move forward.

It is important to provide victims of rape with caring, empowering, and non-judgmental support. It is important to remember that every case is unique, and that every victim is different. Survivors may need specialist help and ongoing psychological and emotional support to help them process and cope with their experience of rape. There is no right or wrong way to feel after a rape, and no two survivors will experience the event in the same way.