Multi-disciplinary Evaluation of Sexual Assault Referral Centres for better Health | @NIHRresearch HS&DR study 16/117/04 | Project led by @drlornaodoherty
Today we share findings from our 1 year follow up cohort study #16DaysOfActivism
During 2019-2022, we spoke to over 300 survivors who had attended 21 SARCs in England about their experiences of support at SARC and the care they received afterwards…
SARCs were a gateway to survivors receiving support from a range of onward support across the third sector, health and police/justice agencies
Survivors often experienced delays in accessing follow on mental healthcare
Today we share key findings from our process evaluation of SARCs, during the #16DaysOfActivism 👇
We found that SARCs are under-utilised and many professionals are not sufficiently aware of the services they offer.
The importance of valuing and developing collaboration between SARC staff and other agencies, as this translates to high quality care and support of survivors.
Survivors highlighted a range of features associated with with the context in which interventions were delivered that impacted how they accessed and experienced interventions… eg setting of intervention, characteristics of facilitators, staff turnover
We created evidence briefings from our 2 Cochrane Reviews, examining the evidence of the effect of psychosocial interventions on mental health and wellbeing for survivors.
This included the types of interventions offered by SARCs, services in 3rd sector, NHS or privately. 👇
Our findings showed the importance of survivors having access to a range of interventions that can improve health and wellbeing, including traditional trauma focused and non- trauma focused approaches.
During the #16DaysOfActivism we’ll share key findings from our study.
SARCs provide a safe space and dedicated care for anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused, providing crisis support, care for medical needs and sexual health.
https://t.co/1IV7AQtLu7
SARCs provide people with the choice to have a forensic medical examination to collect evidence and support those who wish to report to police.
Our study found that SARCs can offer high-quality support which often makes a real difference to survivors.
Sexual assault referral centres offer survivors of sexual violence medical care, emotional support, and forensic services.
A review of 21 of the centres in England found that people who accessed them were positive about the support they received but often experienced delays in accessing follow-on mental healthcare.
Find out more about this review:
https://t.co/dnJAe7Q8qS
Catch up on today's @BBCWomansHour 🎙️ as Prof. O’Doherty discusses @TheMesarchStudy highlighting the urgent need to improve access to Sexual Assault Referral Centres for survivors #Support#Research
🎙️"We can't afford to be complacent. We mustn't take these findings for granted."
🩶 Prof. O'Doherty discusses @TheMesarchStudy on @BBCWomansHour, emphasising the need to improve access to Sexual Assault Referral Centres for survivors.
🎧Listen @ 30:49⤵️
https://t.co/7iztTmOcmt
💪Kicking off the week with important conversations!
This morning, join Professor Lorna O’Doherty on @BBCWomansHour as she'll discuss the importance of raising awareness of Sexual Assault Referral Centres.
Tune in today🎧⤵️
https://t.co/S2Kq0JIzn5 @TheMesarchStudy