Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s new campaign is reaching out a hand of support to the silent survivors sexual violence.

Survivors of sexual violence in Ireland are suffering in silence. Less than half of all sexual violence survivors told someone about their experience, and only around 1 in 5 accessed support from a service, according to the The National Sexual Violence Survey 2023.

DRCC’s new campaign, Signs of Hope, aims to encourage this silent majority to seek help by connecting them with survivors who have already benefitted from DRCC’s services. The campaign focuses on empowerment, with billboards around Dublin featuring handwritten messages from survivors, offering hope and encouragement to those who have yet to seek support.

The Signs of Hope campaign is a powerful initiative, providing a platform for survivors to share their stories while extending a hand of solidarity to others still living with the trauma of sexual violence. Through these messages, DRCC hopes to show that survivors are not alone, and that support is available when they are ready to reach out.

The Sexual Violence Survey 2023 revealed that those who hadn’t sought help for the trauma caused by sexual violence for a number of reasons. Some cited not feeling their issue was important enough, feeling embarrassed or ashamed, feeling as though they were to blame in some way, or they feared they would not be believed.

Speaking on the campaign, the Chief Executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh said “As many as 4 in 5 people affected by sexual violence do not access support services. This silent majority carry the trauma of sexual violence on their own, often not telling anyone else what happened to them. The premise of this campaign is that survivors who have accessed support services are sending a message of hope and encouragement to the many who haven’t. We want to let them know that the National Rape Crisis Helpline, run by Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, offers free, non-judgmental and confidential support. This is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.”

How to access support:

Call the 24-Hour National Helpline 1800 77 8888 – open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

A webchat support service is available online at drcc.ie – Monday-Friday (10am-5pm), Tuesday & Wednesday (12am-3am)

For those contacting the Helpline who are deaf or hard of hearing, we provide a text service, operating Mon-Fri from 8am to 6:30pm, at 086-8238443

A Helpline Interpreting Service is available for those who do not speak English – more at https://bit.ly/DRCClang

If you’d like to share your story or words of hope to other survivors, We-Speak is a secure, anonymous online platform that aims to empower survivors of sexual violence to safely tell their own stories, in their own time, in their own words. You can read more on the WeSpeak website.

Elsewhere on District: Women In Ireland Don’t Feel Safe.