Highlights from YWCA Delaware’s Virtual Let’s Talk Discussion on the Intersection of DV/SV & Mental Health
YWCA Delaware recently hosted an important virtual conversation about the healing journey for survivors of domestic violence (DV) and sexual vioence (SV).
This session focused on understanding trauma, accessing community resources, supporting survivors through compassion and awareness, and reflected the challenges and needs of survivors and those who support them. YWCA Delaware extends heartfelt thanks to all participants for being part of this conversation, and for helping to build a community grounded in healing, empowerment, and advocacy.
Panelists:
Mariann Kenville-Moore, Director of Programs, NAMI Delaware
Ama Amponsah, Domestic Violence & Community Health Program Manager, Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Andrew Ramsaran, DV/SV Youth Counselor (NCC), YWCA Delaware SARC
Lauren White, Legal & Medical Services Trainer, YWCA Delaware SARC
Q&A Highlights
Q: How do we define mental health in the context of trauma - particularly for survivors of domestic and sexual violence?
Ama Amponsah: When we talk about mental health in the context of trauma, especially for survivors of domestic or sexual violence, we're not just talking about, the absence of any illness, like anxiety, depression, or any other diagnosis. we're really considering how mental health is about a person's ability to stay safe in their body to manage their emotions and to connect with others. And also to make choices that give them a sense of control over their life. And so, with survivors. those things can be deeply affected by their experiences of power and control and harm. We know that trauma can change how someone sees themselves, how they see the world, and it can make their safety feel uncertain and feel risky. So when we think about supporting mental health in this context, we're really talking about creating conditions for safety and empowerment and connection. It's about really recognizing resilience. Honoring their choice, and understanding how healing doesn't look the same for everyone.
Q: What are some of the most common mental health challenges faced by survivors of DV and SV?
Lauren White: How each person responds to trauma varies greatly based on a lot of factors, like their support systems and their past traumatic experiences and things like that. Even though every person struggles in healing process might look different. A lot of survivors do share that they have common experiences. Many victims of domestic or sexual violence develop. post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and or anxiety. People also report experiencing dissociation. difficulty sleeping, nightmares, and flashbacks. A lot of times. the feelings of loss of safety and lack of control leads to behavioral changes as well, like hypervigilance, isolating themselves, disordered eating, self-harm, and substance abuse. So it could have a very wide range of challenges.
Q: What are the long-term psychological and emotional impacts of experiencing DV or SV, particularly during childhood?
Marianne Kenville-Moore: We understand that domestic violence and sexual violence can be traumatizing for people. I say that because trauma is one of those things that is experienced on a continuum. We also know that one person's experience can vary very differently, and Lauren described what some of those factors are. We know that the short-term exposure to violence has these psychological impacts. The exposure to that kind of stress can also create circumstances in which someone's mental health might get even more triggered and exasperated. So, the person perhaps has had some episodes of anxiety or depression in the past, but now, an experience that was contained during a few months of their life is now becoming a regular experience. The ability to emotionally regulate can become more difficult. Over the last 25 years, we've gotten some really good research and understanding about what these long-term impacts are. We know that when children have what is called adverse childhood experiences, that it places them at greater risk of developing mental health conditions and challenges later on in life.
And so, there might be some genetic markers that predispose us to have - anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, but when we have childhood experiences that create stress and chemical reactions that might trigger genes. Early intervention and prevention is so important. We know that recovery is possible for people who experience these things.
Q: As a counselor, how does sexual assault uniquely impact a survivor's sense of safety?
Andrew Ramsaran: The violence of sexual assault is more than just the physical attacks. Violations against a survivor include breaching basic rules of how we treat each other as humans. We expect others not to abuse power dynamics and respect our bodily autonomy. So when assaulted, a survivor's understanding of human relationships, including their basic sense of self is shaken. For example, survivors will often lose trust in themselves as they question what they could have done to avoid the assault, and those messages are also amplified by society. That's why building back simple, positive connections to the self and others is unique, and it's often a necessary part of the healing journey after a sexual assault.
Q: How do generational cycles of domestic violence and trauma continue within families and what can be done to interrupt them?
Lauren White: When children grow up in a home seeing violence either towards themselves or between their parents, they can start to view that as a more normal part of relationships and as a way to express themselves. They see violence as a way to get what you want from someone. As they get older , alot of times, they end up replicating the same patterns in their own relationships, both as perpetrators and as victims of domestic violence in their adult relationships.
Teaching healthy relationships outside of the home, in schools and clubs, give children examples of what healthy relationships look like. People with young children are unable to leave an unhealthy relationship because of the lack of services available, or concerns about custody, or not wanting to bring their children to shelter, and other circumstaces. With a person staying in a violent relationship, the child is being exposed to violence for longer.
The other way to interrupt the generational cycle of violence would be for there to be more services and support for people with young children who are trying to leave violent relationships.
Q: Can you explain mandatory reporting and what the greatest challenges are with informed consent in mental health and survivor services?
Marianne Kenville-Moore: Mandatory reporting started in a variety of states in the 1950’s, and 60’s.
Mandatory reporting are generally statutes that acknowledge that people have privacy rights, but there are exceptions and limitations to that and frequently in states, there's limitations apply to children under the age of 18 or who haven't been. emancipated by the courts. It includes individuals who have limited capacity, who have been deemed to be, perhaps, incapable of caring for themselves in making decisions. It also can be individuals who are over a certain age. In Delaware, for example, we’ve established these limitations. We've also now expanded it to include reporting cruelty to animals as well. Tere are a number of statutes in Delaware, but the ones that oftentimes we as mental health providers or health providers in general in the community engage in are these mandatory reports of abuse and neglect and exploitation of children, seniors and vulnerable adults.
We encourage people to use best practices, and to assume that the people that we're working with and that we're meeting don't necessarily have a full understanding of their rights and protections, so before we engage and work with people, we work to build trusting relationships. Trusting relationships means that you have to be honest and share information. And that's easier than it sounds, because sometimes when I pick up a phone, I can have people who immediately start sharing details with me that perhaps raised flags for me. Delaware has a very broad statute, specifically related to child maltreatment.
The challenge is to try to help the people you’re working with. Let them know the limitations and what your obligations are before you engage people into services and support, so that your relationship is transparent to begin with as possible. It’s important to make sure people understand. hat the limitations of privacy and your obligations are. Not every report is life-threatening and immediate right now. Many of those reports are very delayed reports, and so being able to help that person in that moment understand the requirement for mandatory reporting, perhaps helping and empowering them in being part of that and giving control back to them.
Q: What are some effective therapeutic approaches for supporting survivors of DV and SV?
Andrew Ramsaran: At YWCA Delaware’s Sexual Assault Response Center, we provide some helpful approaches. For example, with individual counseling, we provide trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and that uses what we know about trauma's effects on the brain to help survivors connect their experiences to their thoughts and their actions, and understand where they can make helpful changes. Somatic therapy does similar work, using awareness of bodily sensations and experiences. Support groups are another important piece, because they give survivors connection with others going through similar experiences in a supportive environment. Group members can process those experiences and learn healing skills and coping skills as part of a community of survivors. Also emergency crisis counseling is important as well because it can help a survivor gain back basic stability in their healing journey when they need to. Things like self-care practices, like, ourexercise, mindfulness, yoga, journaling…there are a number of activities that can be integrated into therapy.
Other helpful approaches include couples therapy and family therapy because they strengthen healthy relationships and support systems.
We know that secondary and generational trauma are real, and those survivors need the support as well. So, all of these approaches…plus a bunch of other ones I didn't even name help build resilience.
YWCA Delaware remains committed to creating spaces of healing through counseling, advocacy, and education. All services provided by the Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC) are free, confidential, and available without referral. Support groups are offered statewide, and materials are available in both English and Spanish.
For more information or to connect with YWCA Delaware’s SARC, visit ywcade.org/sarc or call our 24/7 helpline at 800-773-8570.