Special Populations
To those who are often excluded from the conversation, we believe you; we support you.
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Cabell, Lincoln, Mason & Wayne Counties
Logan & Mingo Counties
Male Survivors:
- Sexual violence can happen to anyone, regardless of race, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, geography, ability, appearance, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
- 1 in 6 men experience sexual assault or abuse in their lifetime.
- Men recovering from an assault often experience shame, guilt, anger, aggression, panic attacks, sleep disturbances, or substance use.
- Because of social stigma around “masculinity”, many men don’t think they will be supported.
- We believe you. We support you.
- Special Resources:
- https://1in6.org/
- https://malesurvivor.org/
- https://www.rainn.org/articles/sexual-assault-men-and-boys
- https://menhealing.org/
Military and Veteran Survivors:
- Military Sexual Trauma (MST) refers to sexual assault or threatening sexual harassment experienced during military service.
- In 2021, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 50 men reported that they were victims of MST.
- Many people who experience MST experience strong emotions or numbness, trouble sleeping, substance use or drinking alcohol to excess, difficulty with relationships, stomach issues, or eating issues.
- Special Resources:
- Military Crisis Line: 1-(800)273-8255 (Press 1) or Dial 988 (Press 1) or Military Crisis Line (veteranscrisisline.net)
- Military One Source: 1-(800)342-9647 or militaryonesource.mil
- DOD Safe Helpline: 1-(877)995-5247 or Home | Safe helpline
Survivors with Substance Use Disorder:
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Survivors from Racial or Ethnic Minority Backgrounds:
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Survivors with Disabilities:
- People with disabilities are sexually assaulted at nearly three times the rate of people without disabilities.
- Approximately 80% of women and 30% of men with developmental disabilities have been sexually assaulted – half of these women have been assaulted more than 10 times.
- Predators select people with disabilities for a variety of reasons including isolation of victims, the idea that they won’t be believed or won’t be able to report what happened, and the fact that some disabilities mean a person needs help with personal matters, like toileting.
- CONTACT can provide a variety of interpreters to survivors who need that support.
- Special Resources:
- RAINN.org
- Disability Rights of WV
- WV FRIS
- For prevention education for people with disabilities, please visit our education page.
Unhoused Survivors:
- More than 90% of unhoused women have experienced severe physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives.
- Among unhoused older adults, almost 12% had experienced physical or sexual assault in the prior six months
- Human trafficking rates among youth and young adults experiencing homelessness range from 19% to 40%
- CONTACT can help you find the shelter closest to you, and help find travel if the shelter is very far from you
- Closest shelters and resource sites to our service areas:
- Harmony House- Huntington WV (including medical care)
- Huntington City Mission – Huntington WV
- Jericho House- Saint Albans WV
- Sojourners Shelter, YWCA – Charleston WV (Women)
- Crossroads Shelter- Charleston WV (Men)
- Kanawha Valley Resources
- Case Management – Prestera
- Homeless Services – Mason County – Southwestern Community Action Council
Adults Abused As Children
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