The Sexual Assault and Mental Health Project is a collaboration between the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NYSCASA) and the Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. (MHANYS). The project is funded by the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Contact the Building Connections Project Codirector at NYSCASA
Brochure
Fact Sheet - Mental Health Impact of Sexual Trauma
Fact Sheet - Substance Addictions and Sexual Assault
Fact Sheet - Tips for Serving Trauma Survivors

The mission of Building Connections is to provide residents of New York State with education, advocacy and support to strengthen trauma-informed services for survivors of sexual violence with mental health needs. Additionally, the Project works to support Trauma Task Forces throughout the state.

The Building Connections project:

• Fosters collaborative initiatives among mental health programs, victim assistance and rape crisis programs, and diverse community partners to serve and support survivors of sexual trauma.
• Provides referral services for requests of current resources, speaker’s lists, manuals, upcoming trainings, conferences, and other information related to sexual trauma and mental illness.
• Helps develop new trauma task forces, identifies resources and needs, develops mission statements and goals, and increases participation of key constituents in all counties across New York State.  We identify and document successful models of Mental Health and Rape Crisis Center collaborative efforts, using their histories, resources, goals and accomplishments as examples to other regions.
• Coordinates and/or facilitate trainings on such topics as Developing Collaborative Models, Implementing Trauma-based Curriculum, as well as other related sexual assault/mental health topics.

Facts regarding sexual trauma and mental health issues:

• An estimated 1 of 4 females and 1 of 6 males will experience a sexual assault in their lifetime. (National Institute of Justice, 2000.)
• Girls who experience sexual violence are about three times more likely to suffer from psychological disorders, and over four times more likely to suffer drug and alcohol abuse in adulthood. (Medical College of Virginia Commonwealth University, 2000.)
• Child and adult histories of sexual and physical abuse appear to be the first experience in a sequence that leads to homelessness for both women and men. (The Interface of Homelessness, Addictions and Mental Illness in the Lives of Trauma Survivors. Catherine M. Anderson and Katherine B. Chiocchio. Sexual Abuse in the Lives of Women Diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness. 1997. Harris, Maxine, Ed., pp. 21-37.)
• In a sample of 100 male and female subjects receiving treatment for substance abuse, more than a third were diagnosed with some form of a dissociative disorder stemming from childhood sexual or physical abuse. (Ford, J. D., Racusin, R., Davis, William, B., Ellis, C. A, Thomas, J., Rogers, K., Reiser, J., Schiffman, J., & Sengupta, A. (October, 1999). Trauma exposure among children with oppositional defiant disorder and Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (ISSN: 0022-006X), Vol. 67, No. 5, pp. 786-789).
• A recent study of men incarcerated in a county jail reported that 59% of them acknowledged some form of sexual abuse occurring before the age of 13.(Johnson, R.J., Ross, M.W., Taylor, W.C., Williams, M.L., Carvajal, R.J., Peters, R.J. 2006. Prevalence of childhood sexual abuse among incarcerated males in county jail. Journal of Child Abuse and Neglect 30(1): 75–86.)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is meant by a trauma-based model, or trauma framework?
The codirectors of the Building Connections project are qualified to train and give presentations utilizing a trauma-based model. A trauma-based model differs from the biological model or medical model of mental illness by recognizing the significance of environmental experiences and life experiences, particularly those of a traumatic nature. A trauma-based model focuses on the strengths of the individual rather than her or his weaknesses. With this model it is imperative that service providers be well versed on the subject of trauma and be mindful of intervention methods that do not re-traumatize the survivor. We are available to answer any questions you may have regarding trauma.

What kind of individuals do you typically assist?
We frequently receive telephone calls from survivors, mental health treatment providers, rape crisis center staff, students, clergy, volunteers, social workers, health care providers, researchers, law enforcement personnel, policy makers, educators and members of the community-at-large.

What kinds of resources might I obtain from you?
The Building Connections Project compiles and distributes materials regarding sexual assault and trauma, as well as materials that address psychological interventions and address the needs of diverse communities. We also have statistical fact sheets that are available upon request and through this website or by fax/mail.

How do I go about starting a trauma task force in my county to address the needs of trauma/sexual abuse survivors?
Contact Building Connections: The Sexual Assault and Mental Health Project for assistance in creating a Trauma Task Force in your area. We can facilitate or co-facilitate your first meeting or suggest speakers that would be helpful. Many Task Forces begin with an open meeting of interested community agencies and individuals, sexual assault survivors, and mental health consumers. This type of  forum can be used to discuss gaps in services, prevention education, and goals for improvement.

Does NYSCASA or the Building Connections Project provide direct services for sexual assault and trauma survivors?
The Building Connections: The Sexual Assault and Mental Health Project is not a direct service provider, nor is NYSCASA. To access services in your area please call the State-Wide Sexual Violence Hotline at 1800-942-6906.(TTY1800-818-0656). For referrals to mental health resources in your area, please contact the Mental Health Information Center at (800) 766-6177 or at www.MHANYS.org

What specialized curricula do you use to teach topics regarding trauma/sexual abuse?
One such resource is titled “Risking Connection: A Training Curriculum for Working with Survivors of Childhood Abuse” by Saakvitne, Gamble, Pearlman, and Lev and published by Sidran Press. It offers a helpful, philosophical framework for anyone who works with survivors of childhood abuse. It contains five modules which provide training on the following:

• Understanding trauma and its effects.
• Using connections to develop treatment goals with survivors.
• Maintaining a trauma framework when responding to crisis situations.
• Self-awareness as a tool for providers and recipients.
• The significance of vicarious traumatization.

Other tools we offer in trainings include guides to facilitation, and in-depth articles on collaboration for change. Workbooks are also extensively used, such as “Growing Beyond Survival: A Self-Help Toolkit for Managing Traumatic Stress” by Vermilyea.