Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Rise Above Violence works to support survivors

By Amanda Briggs/Rise Above Violence

This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Rise Above Violence is working to ensure our community knows we provide crisis response and support for sexual assault survivors. 

Though we hope no one in our community ever again experiences the trauma of sexual assault, we stand ready to help you and your loved ones in case of the unthinkable.

Too often, sexual assault remains hidden due to manipulation, fear, shame and embarrassment.

However, the statistics are staggering:
• An American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds.
• Every nine minutes, that victim is a child.
• Of those children, 93 percent are assaulted by someone they know.
​• More than 52 percent of women and more than 29 percent of men experience sexual violence in their lifetime.

This horrible crime occurs within every socioeconomic level, faith background and community. It can be hard to believe, but sexual assault happens here in a paradise like Pagosa. That is why our theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month this year is “Building Connected Communities.” It is our hope that Pagosa Springs comes together in strong, unwavering support of survivors.

We at Rise hope you will join us this month — and every month — in acknowledging the issue of sexual assault and educating ourselves so we can prevent this terrible crime and respond well in the instances when prevention has not occurred. 

Please follow along on our social media to learn more about sexual assault prevention and response, join our Push-Up Challenge, and participate in our Denim Day Walk at noon on April 24 at Bell Tower Park.

​If you are a survivor in need of support, please know you can reach out to us at any time through our 24-hour hotline: (970) 264-9075. All calls are free and confidential, and it is our honor to walk next to you as you seek support and healing.