Sexual violence has profound impacts on mental health, affecting cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being.
Conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety are common among survivors.
We must help promote the mental well-being of survivors and address their needs with compassion and support.
Around 1 in 5 women in the world have experienced sexual violence.
264 million people in the world are affected by depression.
Half of sexual violence cases go unreported due to stigma and fear.
Every 40 seconds one person dies from suicide, often linked to trauma.
People with severe trauma-related disorders die 10-20 years earlier than the general population.
Rates of mental health workers can reach below 0.00002% of the population in low-income countries.
The global economy loses $1,000,000,000,000 per year due to depression and anxiety.
Over 40% of countries have no mental health policy.
Up to 60% of people with depression can recover with a proper combination of anti-depressants and psychotherapy.
Around one billion people globally have a mental or substance-use disorder.
Mental health disorders are more prevalent in women and the poor.
Nine out of ten people with mental health problems say that stigma and discrimination have a negative effect on their lives.
Listen to their stories.
"I felt disgusted every time I looked in the mirror. I stayed away from people as much as I could, and felt I made an embarrassment of myself whenever I went out in public."
- Sarah, age 24.
"I didn't know who would be there for me if I told them what I was going through, and I was embarrassed."
- Barry, age 37.
"I felt guilty when I struggled with these things and felt like everyone else was clearly so much better at coping."
- Hazel, age 24.
"It can be the hardest thing to do, but standing up and saying that you deserve better than this is the first step to helping yourself."
- Michael, age 25.