Don’t Be Fooled: Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Impact on Mental Health
By Colette A. Robinson

Colette Robinson is the Director of the Sexual Assault/Mental Health Project of the Mental Health Association of New York State.

Statistics abound regarding the increased predominance of physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse found in the home by a known perpetrator. These statistics often precede a study of the mental health effects of such abuse and mistreatment. However, how many of us are aware of the prevalence of these same abuses in the work environment? Don’t be fooled by the term "harassment". Sexual assault and rape are included at the more severe end of what is known as sexual harassment. It is to this end that I direct my focus for a comparison on the mental health impact.

Several studies - not to be confused with surveys - have been conducted to determine the occurrence rate of sexual harassment. Current statistics indicate 46% of women and 19% of men have been sexually harassed. Just how many of them involved sexual abuse is not included in these statistics. Recently, in New York State, the number of sexual harassment cases filed with the Division of Human Rights surpassed the number of race discrimination reports, making this the number one problem faced in the work environment.

When sexual harassment involves sexual assault, not only do the psychological, physical and economic effects parallel each other, the effects seldom impact the survivor alone. Employers, friends and family tend to minimize the damage because they cannot see or, worse still, they deny the damage exists. Yet the psychological effects are very real.

In the book 9 to 5 Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment, authors Ellen Bravo and Ellen Cassedy recognize that survivors of harassment can experience a wide range of emotional reactions from self doubt and self blame to severe depression. Suffering the harassment (assault) is traumatic enough, but survivors also have to deal with society’s ignorance.

Many who experience sexual assault/harassment are confused at first, disbelieving that someone in a position of authority or trust could treat them so badly. Few survivors know their legal rights or seek help right away. At least, at first, most tend to deny what is happening or blame themselves.

Men can also be negatively impacted by the "roughhousing" behavior of other males, which may very well be regarded as degrading to those who are on the receiving end. Men who feel troubled or upset by this behavior may then be confused or embarrassed about their own feelings and therefore hesitant to speak out against such behavior. Thus it’s clear that men and women alike can suffer the trauma of sexual harassment. While it has become more recognized with sexual assault survivors, society still gives little recognition to the actions and consequences of sexual harassment even when the harassment involved sexual assault.

Survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment face humiliation, embarrassment, and the dilemma of whether to speak up in an effort to stop the abuse and risk these consequences or to suffer alone in silence.

Dr. Jean A. Hamilton has addressed the actions of survivors, specifically stating that "One cannot afford to act like a victim. To appear victimized (even hypersensitive or irritable) is risky because it may be taken by crucial decision makers or potential supporters, as evidence that the woman is not suffering . . . but that she is really incompetent and deserves whatever she gets." Yet, if one appears too calm, she may not be believed.

Anger turned inward with no outlet can lead to stress, depression and post traumatic stress disorder. Survivors report and have been treated for a number of emotional, physical and psychological effects as a result of the experiences including but not limited to denial, self-blame, humiliation, anger, depression, weakened immune system, sleeping and eating disorders, fatigue, headaches, and backaches.

The impact of sexual assault/harassment on mental health is varied and widespread. The important thing is not to be fooled by terminology and statistics, because regardless of where sexual assault occurs, we cannot diminish the impact on mental health. Violation of body, mind and spirit are real; they are also illegal.

Sexual assault remains a problem in today’s society. Learn what you can do to prevent all forms of abuse. Help survivors get the support they need without judgment. After all, hasn’t there already been enough of that?