Breaking the Silence: Understanding and Addressing Campus Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence

By Helen W. Wilson and Christina T. Khan

The staggering reality of campus life is that approximately 20% of female-identified and 5% of male-identified students will experience sexual assault, while 10% of all students will encounter psychological or physical abuse by an intimate partner. For trans, nonbinary, and other gender-expansive students, these rates are even higher.

The devastating consequences of sexual assault and intimate partner violence include emotional distress, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, excessive substance use, and self-harming behaviors. It’s clear that these issues require an immediate and comprehensive response.

A Holistic Approach to Prevention and Support

Facing Campus Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence With Courage presents a multifaceted approach to preventing, addressing, and mitigating the effects of campus sexual and relationship violence. This guide combines cutting-edge research in psychiatry, college mental health, and higher education with practical, real-world applications.

Four Key Sections:

1. Prevention Strategies: Learn how to establish a foundation for consensual, nonviolent relationships from early childhood to the collegiate and graduate levels.
2. Systems of Response and Care: Explore institutional responses, including Title IX policy, and models of trauma-informed campus care.
3. Clinical Interventions for Survivors: Discover the latest clinical interventions for survivors of campus sexual violence, including a special focus on graduate students, as well as perpetrators.
4. Support for Marginalized Communities: Find out how to provide targeted support for students from queer, gender-expansive, and racial minority communities.

This comprehensive guide also examines the underlying power imbalances and systems of oppression, including White supremacy, racism, patriarchy, homophobia, and transphobia, that perpetuate sexual and relationship violence. By acknowledging and addressing these systems, institutions of higher education and mental health professionals can create a safer, more inclusive environment for all students.

Published by Amer Psychiatric Pub Inc, this 282-page paperback is an essential resource for anyone committed to creating change on campus. (ISBN-10: 1615374434, ISBN-13: 978-1615374434)