On Oct. 15, 2017, a tweet started the #MeToo movement.

In B.C., there was an immediate response as reported sexual assaults rose by 16 per cent in the province. Aggravated sexual assault reports in B.C. also increased by 45 per cent in October 2017, a report from Statistics Canada said.

B次元官网网址淒irectly after the #MeToo movement took off last October, we did see about a 12 per cent increase in calls from first-time callers, survivors seeking support,B次元官网网址� Carissa Ropponen, the communications manager for the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre, said.

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If youB次元官网网址檝e been sexually harassed or assaulted write B次元官网网址榤e tooB次元官网网址� as a reply to this tweet.

B次元官网网址� Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano)

The latest available data from VSAC shows a 39 per cent increase in new people accessing the victimsB次元官网网址� service program from Oct. 2017 to May 2018 B次元官网网址� in the months immediately after the #MeToo movement went viral B次元官网网址� compared to the same time the year before.

While demand for their support has been increasing steadily since the clinic opened in Victoria two years ago, the spike inspired by the #MeToo movement is partially because of the growing public conversation about sexualized violence, Ropponen said. When stories such as the Brett Kavanaugh hearing to become a U.S. Supreme Court judge, which saw Dr. Christine Blasey Ford in high school, thereB次元官网网址檚 always an increase in calls to VSAC.

B次元官网网址淲hen issues of sexual assault are in the media and are in the public realm and people are speaking about this, it does trigger survivors,B次元官网网址� Ropponen said.

B次元官网网址淔or survivors, itB次元官网网址檚 a negative emotional response. For some people, it can bring them back to the experience of sexualized violence that they themselves have experienced. That could include flashbacks. For people who are trying to go about living their lives and then theyB次元官网网址檙e hearing about sexual assault, it can bring their experiences back to them really strongly.B次元官网网址�

VSAC opened 36 years ago and added its Sexual Assault Clinic in 2016. Then, approximately 54 people a year used their support services directly after a sexual assault.

B次元官网网址淣ow we have 137 [annually]. WeB次元官网网址檝e seen a 169 per cent increase within two years for that service,B次元官网网址� Ropponen said of their Sexual Assault Response Team at the clinic.

Victims of sexual assault can call VSACB次元官网网址檚 access line (250-383-3232) for emotional support, access to crisis counselling, support groups, long-term trauma counselling as well as victim services. Survivors can also use the victimsB次元官网网址� service program for help with reporting to police, getting medical assistance and the criminal justice process.

B次元官网网址淎 year after the #MeToo movement really took off, now more than ever we need increased financial support to maintain these services and to sustain them,B次元官网网址� Ropponen said.

How you can help

The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre does not receive core funding from the government and must rely on fundraising and donations. Financial contributions can be made directly on , where information about volunteering, training and fundraising support can also be found.

B次元官网网址淥ther things people can do to support survivors is believe them,B次元官网网址� Ropponen said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really important for survivors to know they have support from their community. Then support services and centres such as ours so we can be there for survivors and help them find the healing they seek.B次元官网网址�

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@KeiliBartlett
keili.bartlett@blackpress.ca

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