May 7th marks International Harm Reduction Day, a day focused on implementing strategies to minimize the social, legal, and health-related consequences of substance use and sexual activity.

As a sexual assault support centre providing direct support to survivors for decades in BC, we recognize survivors need to find ways to cope with the trauma of experiencing violence. So on International Harm Reduction Day we want to dig deeper on ways we can reduce harm specifically after experiencing sexualized violence.

Harm Reduction After Sexualized Violence

At Salal we often say that, sexual violence is an isolating experience, not an isolated one. We see how things like shame, embarrassment, and fear can be factors in withdrawing from others – and even ourselves. That’s why we believe a critical way we can collectively support survivors (whether they use substances or not) is through connection. 

Positive, authentic, and affirming connection is vital and often what is required for healing for survivors who can often feel very alone and lonely in the wake of an assault. This sense of loneliness stems from the overwhelming life changes that can occur after sexual violence including:

• the experience of having your bodily autonomy violated
• feeling dehumanized
• feeling as though your life has changed
• feeling as though people don’t understand or believe you

So what happens to us when we retreat to isolation? How does loneliness impact health and wellbeing? The Canadian Mental Health Association explains,

 “It is well understood that human beings are social animals. We are actually hard-wired biologically to be in connection with each other. When we are out of connection, we suffer. And not just the effects of feeling lonely. Social isolation can cause a whole raft of other physical and mental health problems. Depression, anxiety and cognitive decline (in older people) are all associated with social isolation and having fewer social ties. These mental health concerns can make us withdraw from our communities even more, reinforcing our feelings of social isolation. It has also been found that the absence of strong relationships can cause early death. One study found that being socially isolated reduces our lifespan in a way that compares to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.” 

Connection As A Way To Heal

It is important to recognize that healing from a systemic issue such as sexual violence cannot be achieved in isolation. Building connections with others can help us gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and each other, allowing us to move forward from a traumatic experience. This connection involves addressing our social, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. When we reconnect with all parts of ourselves and join supportive communities, we can start healing the wounds caused by violence. Through this connection, we can also work on preventing more harm and finding peace after experiencing sexual violence.

Connection plays a vital role in addressing feelings of loneliness, particularly in the aftermath of sexualized violence. It is a central focus in all of our programs and has greatly influenced the design of our new space at Salal. We believe that survivors deserve a nurturing community where they can heal, feel supported, and find strength in knowing that others have overcome similar challenges. Our aim is to cultivate a network of compassionate individuals who are dedicated to promoting healing and working towards a safer future for all.

Connection As Prevention

When discussing harm reduction and sexual violence, it is important to consider the role of connection as violence prevention. Challenging as it may be, we must also find a way to move forward with those that cause harm. While boundaries are important for survivors’ healing, it is also necessary for us to rethink the traditional punitive approach to seeking justice. Isolating the people who cause harm may not address the root causes of their behaviour and prevent further violence.

Creating a future free from violence means including everyone in the process. Building connections and creating spaces for healing can be a proactive way to reduce harm and prevent individuals at risk of using violence from becoming disconnected and isolated. This approach is essential in promoting respect for human dignity and fostering a sense of unity among all individuals. As Dr. Brownlee notes,

“Chronic loneliness can increase defensiveness and mistrust towards others, which causes people to avoid social interactions, even if they are suffering from social deprivation. Sociability is also a muscle. The less we interact with others, the harder it is to gauge reactions, and the more social situations become stressful instead of nourishing. The pandemic has exacerbated this for many people.”

Societal Impact Of Connection

We understand that during times of global crises and increased isolation, there may be a tendency to dehumanize others in an attempt to feel a sense of control. Through displacement, colonialism, capitalism and neoliberal ideas that tell us we don’t need one another except in transactional ways, that we must fear one another, that our humanity is not bound up together;  we have become at risk of loneliness and isolation which can result in causing harm. 

In order to address these challenges, we believe in creating opportunities for connection, healing, ceremony, and purpose-making. By promoting interdependence and encouraging reconnection with ourselves and others, we can work towards overcoming fear and seeing humanity in one another. It is essential to attend to all aspects of our well-being – social, emotional, spiritual, and physical – as a form of harm reduction.

We cannot simply bandage survivors up and throw them back out into the world that has caused them harm, we must look at the whole picture and work equally as hard to change the conditions and the world that allows for the level of sexual and gender based violence to occur at the rates it currently does, which is far too high. 

At Salal, we deeply believe that connection, rooted in seeing our full humanity, is the antidote and is harm reduction. We invite you to consider how connection might be healing for you and how you may play a role in supporting the survivor in you, the survivors in your life, or supporting those that may be at risk of causing harm.