Survivors helping survivors

The intention of this study is to illuminate - through a literature review and research project - the benefits, challenges and risks of peer-support among survivors of sexual violence in Ontario, Canada. [...] Peer-support groups for people who are HIV+, for instance, developed within a pervading milieu of experimental medical treatments that, by and large, failed to meet the emotional and social needs of terrified, grieving and 8 The term “initiative” has been used instead of group because most instances of peer-support among survivors of sexual violence offer more than group support alone. [...] While the existence of peer-support groups may suggest failure of medical and other professionals in responding to the psycho-social needs of people, it also raises the question of whether professionals are the most appropriate people to respond to these needs. [...] Peer-Support Initiatives with Survivors of Sexual Violence Given the amount of literature pertaining to peer-support, the relative absence of literature on the subject of peer-support with survivors of sexual violence is noteworthy. [...] This study concluded that duration of sexual abuse and the quality of relationship to co-workers were the greatest predictors of scores on a scale measuring sense of coherence15.