A 39-year-old member asked:
Could a sexual assault cause someone to commit suicide?
4 doctor answers • 12 doctors weighed in
Dr. Wayne Ingramanswered
Specializes in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Get counselling: It is not uncommon to still have "issues" post sexual assault, even 40 years later. It can harm future "normal relationships" psychologically. Please seek out a therapist or inexpensive "counseling service".
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Ed Friedlanderanswered
Pathology 46 years experience
Not the cause: Suicide is a person's choice, and almost always a bad one. Someone who's been made to feel worthless by abuse -- of whatever sort -- is the most likely to take this wrong course of action. The vast majority (99%) of physically-healthy people who made real attempts on their lives were glad, one year later, that they failed.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Denise Elseranswered
Specializes in Gynecology
Yes: Sexual assault could cause someone to commit suicide but please know that a victim of sexual assault is a victim!. A victim should never feel like they need to punish themselves especially in the most severe way as suicide.
Help is avaiable. The attacker should be punished, not the victim.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Andrew Berryanswered
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
YES: Sexual assault can bring on unspeakable feelings of shame and dirtiness. And if the victim tells somebody and is ridiculed, ignored, or otherwise not properly attended to, it's like being violated all over again, and suicides can happen for reasons as such.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Related questions
A 40-year-old member asked:
How should I protect myself from being a victim of sexual assault?
Dr. Sheila Goodmananswered
Specializes in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Be careful: There is no way to guarantee that you won't be a victim but there are ways to protect yourself. Be careful who you're with when you go out, have a bud... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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A 42-year-old female asked:
What factors or variables increase an adult's vulnerability to drug-facililiated sexual assault?
Dr. Marcie Bermananswered
Clinical Psychology 41 years experience
Using drugs!: In some ways you answered your own question. Vulnerability to sexual assault can arise out of a history of trauma and abuse for the perpetrator as we... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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A 43-year-old member asked:
Are victims of sexual assault likely to become sexually active?
Dr. Megan Birdanswered
Obstetrics and Gynecology 21 years experience
Yes: Most people who are sexually assaulted come to terms with the attack and can be sexually active. This may take a long time and a lot of help however.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
How can I find group activity ideas dealing with sexual assault?
Dr. Pamela Pappasanswered
Psychiatry 44 years experience
After sexual assault: Dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault can be challenging. You are wise to be seeking some group activities to help with this. There are sever... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
I can't get over a sexual assault that happened almost forty years ago?
Dr. Wayne Ingramanswered
Specializes in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Get counselling: It is not uncommon to still have "issues" post sexual assault, even 40 years later. It can harm future "normal relationships" psychologically. Please ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jun 26, 2015
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