Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder & Anxiety in Post-Rape Victims
Authors: Ali Marie Meadows, Shelbi Abbott, Makayla Hall, and Isabel Louzingou
Faculty Supervisor: Nicole Masano, DNP, MSN, RN, CNM, CNE
Community Partner: Connie Smith Rape Crisis Center
Abstract:
Our group worked with Connie Smith Rape Crisis Center in Brunswick, Georgia through tertiary prevention to provide mental health screening services to post-rape victims. In addition, we also donated gently-used comfortable clothing/ loungewear as well as brand new undergarments, through our acquisition of a service-learning grant, to the center. The purpose of our two services to the center was to catch early, negative signs of post-rape mental health sequelae and promote a returning sense of normalcy to the affected survivors. We felt a sense of accomplishment after the implementation of our project because we were able to empower over two dozen other women to take back control of their own lives. While working on this project, we were able to better understand how the small-scale Brunswick mental health community functions to constantly provide the best and most current care to those in need. Through problem analysis and critical and creative thinking, we enacted viable solutions to arguably two of the most deficient areas in post-rape healthcare. The future implications for our project are limitless. Mental health disorder screening may turn into treatment, and bags of clothing donations may turn into rooms full of other items post-rape victims commonly need. We thoroughly enjoyed working with Connie Smith Rape Crisis Center to meet our service-learning outcomes and give back to those in our community during such a vulnerable time.
