Congressional Attention on Military Sexual Assaults Could Play Role in Number Seeking Treatment

Center officials say last year more than 320 patients were referred for treatment due to sexual trauma in the military. That’s about a 100 more than the previous year.  And so far this year, the number appears to be rising again. Isakson believes more are seeking treatment because the Senate Armed Services Committee began looking into the issue about a month ago and last week held a hearing.

“Anytime you bring visibility to an issue sometimes it gives people the fortitude to come forward and tell their story as well. We’ve seen that in a lot of other areas.”

Dr. Meghna Patel is the team leader for the Center’s military sexual trauma team. She can’t say for sure whether recent Congressional scrutiny has caused more to discuss being sexually assaulted, but she says it’s likely because anytime there’s media attention it appears more women want to discuss their trauma.

“It’s interesting on the weeks where there is increased media coverage on this issue we do see kind of corresponding consults in the weeks after, so I do think the media has a big effect on discussing this issue.”

Patel also believes more women are seeking treatment because during their initial visits to a primary care doctor at the Center they’re asked whether they were ever sexually assaulted in the military. She says most of the trauma took place a number of years ago.

“In general, most of our patients are discussing traumas that occurred 20 to 30 years ago.  For most of them, the trauma occurred in basic training when they were 18, 19 years old or very early in their army career, in their early 20s.

Isakson says Senators will continue working to make sure if there is violence in the military there is a seamless and swift way to report it while also protecting privacy.