Sexual violence counselling 24/7

Julie Wilson (left), crisis support co-ordinator, with Bay of Plenty Sexual Assault Support Service general manager Kylie McKee and lead councillor Julie Sutton. Photo / George Novak

A new 24/7 crisis counselling helpline for victims of sexual assault or sexual abuse has been launched in the Bay of Plenty.

Bay of Plenty Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS) launched the free helpline last month to help those dealing with the effects of historic and recent sexual violence.

The organisation was established in 2011 but the crisis calls had always been something they had wanted to offer to their clients.

The service will take calls from any person of any age, at any time of night or day, and offer immediate support to victims of sexual violence.

Bay of Plenty Sexual Assault Support Service general manager Kylie McKee said they organised counsellors for clients through a contract with ACC.

With ACC counsellors' workloads stretched in this region, the helpline was a way to offer immediate help, she said.

"We have 28 counsellors on our books and they are full. We have been struggling to find ways to meet the gap and keep people supported until they can get into a therapeutic relationship with a counsellor."

"It's often in the night people have those thoughts floating around and they find themselves unable to cope. For those who don't have help in place, or who have never found the courage to talk to anyone about it, it's the confidential first call," she said. "This is the first time something has become available for night-time assistance specifically for people affected by sexual assault or abuse, it's the ability to assist them in the beginning of their healing journey."

The organisation had recruited two new counsellors to help manage the crisis line to date and a registered nurse to treat people at their offices as well.

SASS lead counsellor Julie Sutton said the service was there to give people a voice.

Having the ability to talk to a qualified counsellor about what had happened was invaluable to a victim, she said.

"It's about giving people a voice, for them to be heard.

"For them to have that opportunity. It's a very difficult time for people to share so it's really important it is handled properly right from the beginning.

"If someone has plucked up the courage, it might be the only time they make that call, and if that is not handled properly from the word go then it could have detrimental effects. It may stop them from coming forward in the future," Mrs Sutton said.

Once a call had been made to the crisis line, a counsellor would help de-escalate the situation and then offer the victim support and options on where they went from there.

Sexual Violence in Aotearoa New Zealand

* In New Zealand, up to one in three girls will be subject to an unwanted sexual experience by the age of 16 years. The majority of those incidents would be considered serious.

* As many as one-in-five women will experience sexual assault as an adult.

* For Maori girls and women the likelihood of sexual violence is nearly twice as high as the general population.

* Pacific and migrant women are also at statistically greater risk of sexual violence.

* There are varying rates for sexual violence offences against males but large scale international prevalence studies have tended to find a figure of one in seven boys.

* To use the 24/7 crisis line, dial: 0800 227 233