A Not-for-Profit Agency

BUILDING CONNECTIONS:
The Sexual Assault /
Mental Health Project
www.nyscasa.org

Mental Health Association in Ulster County, Inc.

P.O. Box 2304 Kingston, N.Y. 12402-2304

Children & Families: (845) 336-4747  Adult Services: (845) 339-9090  Fax: (845) 336-0192

MHA is a United Way Agency & Affiliated with the Mental Health Association in New York State & the National Mental Health Association

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BUILDING CONNECTIONS:

The Sexual Assault/Mental Health Project

Mental Health Association in Ulster County, Inc.                New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault
c/o 194 Washington Avenue                              63 Colvin Avenue
Albany, NY 12210                                    Albany, NY 12206
(518) 434-0439, ext. 229                                 (518) 482-42222, ext. 206
jcrowe@mhanys.org                                    cballerano@nyscasa.org

Mission: The purpose of the Building Connections project is to support and strengthen collaborative relationships and coalitions with the aim to improve and coordinate trauma-based services for sexual assault survivors diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness, in both Rape Crisis Centers and community-based mental health agencies.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. What is Building Connections: Sexual Assault/Mental Health Project?

A. Building Connections is a project of the Office of Mental Health (OMH) Trauma Initiative which began in 1995. The Trauma Initiative works in four arenas: statewide policy and programs, state psychiatric centers, community programs, and training and technical assistance. OMH established a Trauma Unit in May 2000, effectively mainstreaming the Trauma Initiative. It is a collaborative effort between Mental Health Association in Ulster County, Inc. (MHAUC) and New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Inc. (NYSCASA). The goals of the project are as follows: (1) Assist OMH Trauma Initiative Regional Committees and committee leaders in assessing resources and needs, develop mission statements and goals, and increase participation of key constituents in all counties across New York State (2) Identify and document successful models of mental health and rape crisis center collaborative efforts, using their histories, resources, goals and accomplishments as examples to other regions (3) Provide referral services for requests of current resources, speaker’s lists, manuals, upcoming trainings, conferences, and other information related to sexual trauma and mental illness and (4) Coordinate and/or facilitate trainings on such topics as developing collaborative models; implementing trauma-based curriculum such as Risking Connection by Saakvitne, Gamble, Pearlman and Lev, as well as other related sexual assault/mental health topics. Consider the following stats regarding sexual violence and mental health issues:

• An estimated 1 of 4 females and 1 of 6 males will experience a sexual assault in their lifetime. (National Institute of Justice, 2000.)
• 31% (almost one-third) of all rape survivors develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at sometime during their life. (Rape in America: A

•     Report to the Nation. (National Victim Center and Crime Victims Research/Treatment Center, University of South Carolina,     Charleston. 1992)

• Girls who experience sexual violence are about three times more likely to suffer from psychological disorders, and over four times more likely to suffer drug and alcohol abuse in adulthood. (Medical College of Virginia Commonwealth University, 2000.)
• About 70%-80% of those diagnosed as borderline personality appear to have experienced some form of sexual and/or physical abuse in childhood. (PTSD/Borderlines In Therapy: Finding a Balance. Kroll, Jerome. 1993. Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School.
• Studies of survivors of childhood sexual abuse who present for treatment reveal an extensive list of severe symptomatology, including depression, suicide attempts, self-mutilation, substance abuse, eating-disorders, dissociative phenomenon, and multiple identities. (Courtois, C.) Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders. 1996. Schwartz, Mark F. and Leigh Cohn, Ed., Sexual Abuse, Eating disorders, and Prevention: Political and Social Realities, Sermac, L., et al.
• Child and adult histories of sexual and physical abuse appear to be the first experience in a sequence that leads to homelessness for both women and men. (The Interface of Homelessness, Addictions and Mental Illness in the Lives of Trauma Survivors. Catherine M. Anderson and Katherine B. Chiocchio. Sexual Abuse in the Lives of Women Diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness. 1997. Harris, Maxine, Ed., pp. 21-37.)
• Sexual violence histories are prevalent among 50-70% of women in substance abuse treatment programs. (The U.S. Public Health Service Office on Women’s Health.)
• Sexual abuse histories are prevalent among 50-70% of women in inpatient psychiatric facilities, and 22-54% of women receiving case management mental health services. (On Record: Facts About Mental Health and Physical/Sexual Abuse. 1994. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Center for Mental Health Services.)
• Rape survivors are thirteen times more likely than non-crime victims to attempt suicide. (Rape in America: A Report to the Nation. 1992. National Victim Center and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, University of South Carolina, Charleston.)
• An independent assessment of severely mentally ill recipients of public mental health inpatient and outpatient services revealed 43% had a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder not previously assessed by any of the facilities. Mental health staff had noted a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder in the charts of only 2% of the patients. (Mueser, K.T., et al., 1998. “Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Severe Mental Illness.” Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 66(3), pp. 493-499.
• Estimates indicate that 25%-50% of rape and child sexual abuse survivors receive some form of mental health treatment as a result of the victimization. With only a quarter to one-half receiving mental health treatment, an estimate of the total annual cost of mental health care for adult survivors of child sexual abuse is $2.1 billion. An estimate of the total annual cost of mental health care for victims of attempted or completed rape is $863 million. (Victim Costs and Consequences: A New Look. 1996. Miller, Ted R., Mark a Cohen, & Brian Wiersama. U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice.)

Q. Does NYSCASA or the Building Connections Project provide direct services for sexual assault/trauma survivors?

A. The Building Connections: Sexual Assault/Mental Health Project is not a direct service provider. If you need crisis or therapy services, please contact your local Rape Crisis Center or local Mental Health Association, Inc.                                                                                          

 Q. What is meant by a trauma-based model, or trauma framework?

A. The directors of the Building Connections project are qualified to train and give presentations regarding the trauma-based model. A trauma-based model differs from the biological model or medical model of mental illness by recognizing the significance of environmental and traumatic experiences. A trauma model focuses on the strengths of the individual rather than her or his weaknesses. DSM-IV criteria such as dissociation are viewed as adaptations to horrific events. With this model, it is imperative that service providers be well-versed on the subject of trauma and be mindful of intervention methods that do not re-traumatize the consumer. We are available to answer any other questions you may have regarding trauma.

Q. What kind of individuals do you typically assist?

A. We frequently receive telephone calls from survivors, mental health treatment providers, rape crisis center staff, students, clergy, volunteers, social workers, health care providers, researchers, law enforcement personnel, policy makers, educators and members of the community-at-large.

Q. What kinds of resources might I obtain from the Building Connections Project?

A. A resource library of books, texts, journals, videos, and other media are available for loan. The topics range from general information regarding sexual assault and trauma, to more specific topics and target audiences pertaining to sexual assault and mental health issues. Also available are materials that address psychological intervention and issues regarding diversity of population or culture, such as women of color, men as sexual abuse survivors, and lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender issues. 

Q. How do I go about starting a trauma task force in my county to address the needs of trauma/sexual abuse survivors?

A. You might consider hosting an open meeting with interested community agencies and individuals, sexual assault survivors, and mental health consumers.  Use this forum to discuss gaps in services, prevention education, or goals for improvement. Contact Building Connections: the Sexual Assault/Mental Health Project for assistance in creating a Trauma Task Force in your area. We can facilitate or co-facilitate your first meeting, or suggest speakers that would be helpful regarding a specific area of expertise. One of the tasks of Building Connections is to keep county Task Forces and Coalitions connected and well informed. You can borrow video tapes from our resource library to jumpstart a discussion within your new Task Force. Don't hesitate to allow us to assist you. 

Q. What specialized curricula do you use to teach particular topics regarding trauma/sexual abuse?

A. One such resource is titled Risking Connection: A Training Curriculum for Working with Survivors of Childhood Abuse by Saakvitne, Gamble, Pearlman, and Lev and published by The Sidran Press. It offers a helpful, philosophical framework for anyone who works with survivors of childhood abuse. It contains five modules which provide training on the following: (1) understanding trauma and its effects, (2) using connections to develop treatment goals with survivors, (3) maintaining a trauma framework when responding to crisis situations, (4) self-awareness as a tool for providers and recipients and (5) the significance of vicarious traumatization. Other tools we offer in trainings include guides to facilitation, and in-depth articles on collaboration for change. Workbooks are also used extensively, such as Growing Beyond Survival: A Self-Help Toolkit for Managing Traumatic Stress by Vermilyea, Trauma Treatment for Adolescent Girls: A 15-Week Group Model by Lozada-Portalatin, Understanding and Dealing with Sexual Abuse Trauma: An Educational Group for Women by Muenzenmaier, Sampson, et.al. Check with Building Connections for other available resources.

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