Who participated in the survey?

• Three hundred fort-five (345) people participated in the survey.

• 85% female (n=293), 13% male (n=45) 2% other (n=5) (Queer, questioning, non-binary, pan sexual). There was one ‘troll’ who completed the survey.

• Women were the majority of the survey participants

• Half of the participants (49% or n=166) were between ages of 41-65, 8% (n=27) were between the age of 16-25, 37% (n=127) were between 26-40, and 6% (n=22) were over 65. Just under half of the participants (45%) were under 40, and just over half (55%) were 40 years of age or over.

What was their experience with sexual violence (SV)?

• 64% (n=218) experienced sexual violence.

• 2% (n=8) identified as perpetrators of sexual violence.

• 46% (n=158) identified as a family member or friend of someone who experienced sexual violence.

Survey participants came from many places of work and interests (VAW and SV workers, police, justice, community organizations, advocates, interested community). The survey included input from broad and diverse community perspectives.

Who is under represented with this survey response?

• Men in general and young men

• Young women

• LGBTQ and questioning

Use of services and supports by people who experienced SV

• Over half of the participants who experienced sexual violence did not use services at all (61% of respondents). They said they had never reached out for services, declined services, or didn’t know about services.

• Services were used over many years (more than 10 years to present)

• 16% (n=53) of respondents used services in the last 5 years because of sexual violence.

• The most frequently used services are: private counsellor (14%), Police services (12%), Community Mental Health Counselling Services (8%), Family Doctor (8%). Victim Services (7%), Hospital Mental Health services (7%), SAC WHSBG (6%), Women’s Shelter services (6%), Community Counselling WHSBG (5%) Hospital Emergency Services (5%). Most of these services provide a range of general services in the community. Only 5 of these services are members of VPGB.

• Family and Friends were rated highest for help and support on a ‘somewhat helpful’ to ‘extremely helpful’ rating scale and they were the most common type of support that SV survivors accessed (almost half of respondents). Services such as Sexual Assault services, mental health services, and health care system were rated much lower on the helpfulness rating scale. Police services and employers scored poorly on this rating scale (9.3 % rated police as not helpful and 10% rated employers as not helpful).