Addressing Mental Health Needs Through Legal Advocacy for Abuse Survivors

How can legal advocacy for abuse survivors help meet their mental health needs?

Sexual abuse doesn’t just impact a survivor physically. The mental health side effects of abuse can be traumatic for decades.

Let’s go over some statistics and take a look at how legal advocates can help meet survivors’ mental health needs, from therapy to validation and support.

In this article, you will learn:

• The mental health effects of abuse
• Legal advocacy to meet mental health needs
• Connecting survivors to mental health resources
• Trauma-informed advocacy

Mental Health Needs for Abuse Survivors

Did you know…

Statistics show that 80% of teenage girls who have been the victim of sexual assault will develop a mental health disorder as a result. The most common disorders are depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. If left untreated, survivors can deal with the mental health repercussions for years.

Mental health support needs to be a part of the process from the beginning.

Trauma-informed legal advocacy can meet a survivor’s mental health needs. If you are working with a sexual abuse lawyer who takes mental health seriously, you will have a team of people that not only knows how to validate your experiences but also how to connect you to the resources you need.

Kayla’s Survivors of Chicago was founded around this concept. You need to not only pursue justice for what has been done to you but also work towards healing your mental health trauma.

The Mental Health Importance of Legal Advocacy

Legal advocacy matters because…

If a survivor of sexual abuse does not get the support they need after being abused, their mental health will continue to decline. They may feel like there is no way out and that they are the only person who has gone through something like this.

Legal advocacy does the opposite, providing:

• Validation that what happened was not the survivor’s fault
• A safe place to share the story of what happened
• Mental health professional referrals
• Protection from further harm
• Control over the legal process

The legal process can be a therapeutic part of the survivor’s healing process as well. Having someone who will fight for you and for what is right can be a healing experience. Studies show that when a survivor does not have help, they are 3 times more likely to develop PTSD and anxiety disorders.

Trauma-Informed Legal Support to Meet Mental Health Needs

Trauma-informed sexual abuse lawyers understand…

Trauma impacts how our brains work and how we react to different stimuli. If someone has been through a traumatic experience, it can make it difficult to recall dates and times and give the details necessary to take a case to court.

Trauma can also make someone come across as being cold or disinterested when they recount what happened to them. These are simply ways that our brain copes with trying to process the trauma.

This is why not all legal representation is equal.

Sexual abuse lawyers that are trauma-informed understand the way that trauma affects people and how to treat survivors in a way that is going to meet their needs and the needs of the case.

Trauma-informed advocacy includes:

• Understanding that the recovery process is not linear
• That some days will be easier than others and vice versa
• Adjusting timelines and expectations to the trauma and mental health needs
• Connecting a survivor to a therapist that specializes in trauma and sexual abuse

Connecting to Mental Health Resources for Abuse Survivors

You can feel powerless and have no idea where to turn.

When you are trying to find help for your mental health issues or sexual abuse, it can be difficult. If you have never had to do it before, there can be an overwhelming amount of information. It can also be difficult to navigate all of the resources that are out there.

One of the best ways to connect to mental health resources is through legal advocacy.

A sexual abuse lawyer can also provide you with resources that you may not have been able to find on your own. They can also connect you to therapists that work with trauma survivors and victim support groups as well as emergency mental health services.

This compensation isn’t just about the financial award, but…

The financial barrier is removed from you receiving the mental health support you need. Mental health support has a huge role in the recovery process. If a survivor is able to receive mental health treatment at the quality they need and not have to worry about the financial burden of it, their recovery is going to go a lot faster.

Support Network to Help Meet Mental Health Needs

Sexual abuse recovery is not something that is going to be done in a silo.

It is going to take a good support network to help you get through it. You are going to need mental health support and legal support for a start. Sexual abuse lawyers are going to be the hub of this support network. This is because they are going to be the ones that are working on the legal aspects as well as making the connection to the mental health services and advocates you are going to need.

This approach is going to help you with all of the different aspects of recovery at one time.

The legal process gives the survivor a timeline that they are working on, which will be helpful as well. You can have mental health recovery goals and legal goals, and when you hit those markers, you will feel as though you are moving in the right direction.

Mental Health Issues Specific to Abuse Survivors

Did you know that different mental health issues…

Some people may be more impacted by PTSD flashbacks and hypervigilance, while others have difficulty sleeping or are constantly reliving the abuse they have endured. Some survivors will battle depression and even suicidal thoughts.

The mental health symptoms that a survivor has will affect how they work with their sexual abuse lawyer. Abusive relationships, physical or emotional, and sexual trauma can all cause a person to be triggered and have mental health episodes that impact their behavior.

Trauma-informed sexual abuse lawyers are going to know that everyone is different and may need different approaches based on their specific mental health needs.

The lawyer will also adjust their meeting locations and times for the survivor. For someone who is having PTSD flashbacks or memory problems, the lawyer may decide to have meetings in different locations that are more comfortable for the survivor. If a person is dealing with depression, they may need to have more check-ins to make sure that they are still engaged with the legal process.

The Long-Term Mental Health Impact of Sexual Abuse Support

The long-term impact of sexual abuse support…

If a survivor of sexual abuse has both legal advocacy and mental health support, the outcome is going to be life-changing. A survivor is going to report feeling like an empowered person instead of a victim.

They are going to start building healthy coping mechanisms that will allow them to go forward with their lives with confidence. Research has shown that if you provide integrated support, it is going to reduce the chances of the development of chronic mental health conditions.

Survivors that have been provided with full support are also going to have a lower chance of depression and anxiety disorders that last for a long period. Survivors who are provided with comprehensive care are also more likely to have healthy relationships, are able to meet their educational and career goals, and report satisfaction with life.

The Takeaway

You cannot separate legal advocacy from mental health recovery.

Sexual abuse survivors need both, not only to heal from the trauma that they have been through but also to rebuild their lives. Sexual abuse lawyers need to have mental health on their radar. When you are interviewing lawyers for your case, one of the things that you should be asking them is about what mental health resources they know.

You need to find a legal team that is going to be with you every step of the way as you are working towards your healing.