Survivors of sexual violence commonly hear statements like these—often from the very people they rely on for support:
“You need to get over it.”
“Isn’t it time you moved past this?”
“You can’t let this upset you forever.”
People may believe they’re encouraging survivors to heal, but telling a survivor to “just move on” is as ignorant and insensitive as telling a sick person to “just get better.”
Decades of research reveal the harsh and lasting impacts of sexual violence on every person it touches. Survivors can and do experience healing, of course, but no two healing journeys are the same—and there aren’t any “magic words” that can undo what never should have been done in the first place.
If you’re a survivor of rape, abuse, incest, or any other form of sexual violence, you deserve to be heard, believed, and supported as you navigate the aftereffects of the harm you experienced.
The Truth About Surviving Sexual Violence
If you have experienced any or all of these assault side effects, you are not “crazy”—and you are not alone.
If a survivor in your life is experiencing any or all of these impacts, they are not “crazy”—and they need your unwavering support.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you are not alone. RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and en Español.
Mental Health Effects
After surviving sexual violence, people are more likely to suffer from depressive thoughts and suicidal ideation.
Approximately 70%
of rape or sexual assault victims experience moderate to severe distress, a larger percentage than for any other violent crime. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Socio-emotional Impact of Violent Crime (2014).
See More Facts & StatisticsPTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
94% of women
who are raped experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the two weeks following the rape. 1D.S. Riggs, T. Murdock, W. Walsh, A prospective examination of post-traumatic stress disorder in rape victims. Journal of Traumatic Stress 455-475 (1992).
See More Facts & Statistics30% of women report symptoms of PTSD
9 months after the rape. 1J. R. T. Davidson & E. B. Foa (Eds.) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: DSM-IV and Beyond. American Psychiatric Press: Washington, DC. (pp. 23-36).
See More Facts & StatisticsSuicide Ideation & Attempts
33% of women who are raped contemplate suicide.
See More Facts & Statistics13% of women who are raped attempt suicide.
See More Facts & StatisticsDrug Use
After sexual assault, survivors are more likely to use drugs
3.4x more likely to use marijuana
6x more likely to use cocaine
10X more likely to use other major drugs 1DG Kilpatrick, CN Edumuds, AK Seymour. Rape in America: A Report to the Nation. Arlington, VA: National Victim Center and Medical University of South Carolina (1992)
Social & Relational Challenges
Sexual violence affects survivors’ relationships with their families, friends, and co-workers.
38% of survivors
of sexual violence experience work or school problems, which can include significant problems with a boss, coworker, or peer. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Socio-emotional Impact of Violent Crime (2014).
See More Facts & Statistics37% of survivors
experience problems with family members and friends, including getting into arguments more frequently than before, not feeling able to trust their loved ones, or not feeling as close to them as before the crime. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Socio-emotional Impact of Violent Crime (2014).
See More Facts & StatisticsRisk Rises with Closer Connections
A survivor’s relationship to the perpetrator correlates with their likelihood of experiencing professional or emotional issues, including moderate to severe distress or increased problems at work or school:
67% of survivors
experience moderate to severe distress when victimized by a stranger. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Socio-emotional Impact of Violent Crime (2014).
See More Facts & Statistics79% of survivors
experience moderate to severe distress when victimized by a family member, close friend, or acquaintance. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Socio-emotional Impact of Violent Crime (2014).
See More Facts & Statistics84% of survivors
experience moderate to severe distress when victimized by an intimate partner. 1Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Socio-emotional Impact of Violent Crime (2014).
See More Facts & StatisticsSee more statistics:
RAINN presents this data for educational purposes only and strongly recommends using the citations to review sources for more information and detail.