Healing the Wounds of Trauma

will be full of internal struggles. Their shame may be so great that it leads them to kill themselves.

4. How can we help someone who has been raped? If the victim is a minor, the rape needs to be reported to the authori- ties (see page 11). A. They need medical care. Rape victims need immediate medical care. There are medicines that can be given immediately after a rape. These make it less likely that the person will contract HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, tetanus, hepatitis B, or other illnesses. A doctor should check for other infec- tions and injuries like broken bones or internal bleeding. It is better if the person gets medical help within one or two days after the rape. Even if there is a delay, getting help is still worthwhile. A member of the family, a friend, or an older caring woman should go with the person to the doctor and stay there. This comforts and supports the person, and may help them give the necessary informa- tion to the doctor. ❂❂ SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION What resources are available in your area to provide medical help to rape victims? If you don’t know, make a plan to find out. B. They need to have a person to talk to whom they can trust. Since rape makes people feel so deeply ashamed, they will only share their pain with someone they trust to keep the matter private. Since rape victims already feel badly about themselves, they will not want to share their pain with people who reprimand or blame them more for what happened. Often the person knows whom they can trust, and they should be allowed to choose those with whom they speak. It could be a priest, a pastor or pastor’s wife, a wise woman in the church, or another person who has been raped. Leaders can identify people in the church who are able to do this, and give them training to improve their skills.

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How Can We Help Someone Who Has Been Raped?