Sexual trauma and stigma

Something really hit home once I started to get treatment. There’s a misconception about what mental health and mental illness and PTSD are. A lot of people think that it has to be related to combat or operational experience. It doesn’t. Mine isn’t. So I didn’t feel like I was worthy enough to get help or to even have a diagnosis of PTSD, and that doesn’t make sense. - Military Veteran

For those in the military or RCMP who have suffered sexual trauma, service culture itself can become an impediment to accessing help.

The stigma of sexual assault and mental health issues both within and outside the military and RCMP can also be a barrier to getting help. The person themselves may not feel worthy of help, may not recognize they need help, may not know where to access it, or may that find those they have reached out to are not helpful.

While acceptance that PTSD is caused by the trauma of combat has grown, the recognition of sexual assault as an operational injury (OSI) and cause of PTSD has lagged behind. It will take time, more reporting of sexual harassment and assaults, and more education and support services to continue to help reduce stigma.