New VA center to focus on sex assault victims

[unhappycamper]

New VA center to focus on sex assault victims
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Oct 28, 2007 14:21:31 EDT

BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, N.J. — The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to open a new treatment center here that will focus exclusively on women veterans who have been victims of sexual assaults.

The move comes amid an increase in sexual assaults reported by the military. U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan mean that there are also now women veterans suffering combat-related stress, on top of sexual trauma.

The VA already has a network of 15 sexual trauma programs, but those programs either care for both men and women, or for women who have mental issues not related to sexual assault.

~snip~

“There’s a lot of women who have residential needs who I think are less likely to come to the VA because it’s literally spending 24-7 with guys,” Miklos Losonczy, one of two VA psychiatrists behind the creation of the treatment center, told The Sunday Star-Ledger of Newark.

Losonczy worried that women veterans who need treatment might not be seeking it because “they think the VA is all men and wonder, ‘Why would I get my military sexual trauma treatment surrounded by men?”’

The number of sexual assaults reported in the military rose from 1,700 in 2004 to 2,947 in 2006. The Pentagon attributes the increase to a new reporting system meant to encourage women to come forward by giving them the option not to pursue formal charges, according to Department of Defense spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/ap_vasexassaults_071028/

[varkam]

1. And it's probably even higher than that.

There's a lot of guilt and shame felt by many victims, so that drives reporting down, too.

I think this is excellent that they're opening a new center. I think the second best thing one can do other than drive down the actual incidences of assault and rape is to offer comprehensive treatment to victims in a setting that is safe and comfortable. K&R

[zbdent]

2. If it's run by Repuke appointees ...

it is probably there for PRODUCING THEM, not counselling them ...

Oh, wait ... Females? Never mind ...