May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote access to mental health services. It’s an opportunity to educate, advocate, and support one another in improving mental well-being.
At Empower Yolo, we understand that survivors of abuse may often face greater mental health challenges. Studies show that 30–60% of women with chronic mental illness have experienced domestic violence (Mental Health Foundation).
“The impact of domestic violence and sexual assault on mental health can be immense,” says Leslie Rodriguez, Bilingual Therapist, Empower Yolo. “It differs for everyone, but many struggle with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, anger, guilt, nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, and fear of seeing their abuser. A victim may experience low self-worth due to ongoing abuse and may blame themselves for the abuse. They may also engage in self-harming or risky behaviors. A victim may have difficulties trusting others and developing healthy relationships. Victims may experience re-traumatization if they need to frequently re-tell their experiences,” says Rodriguez.
“Mental health struggles can be exacerbated if the victim lacks a support system, is blamed for the domestic violence or sexual assault, or for ‘not getting better’ fast enough. Oftentimes, it is not just the victim who is impacted; family members and romantic partners may also struggle emotionally after a loved one is assaulted. They may struggle with feelings of guilt for failure to protect their loved one. It is important to help victims access the support needed to reduce the impact of the abuse on their mental health,” adds Rodriguez
Empower Yolo supports survivors of abuse at a high rate, including children. In 2024, 6,848 sessions of peer counseling and therapy were provided for 1,198 adults and 198 children. Support groups helped 70 adults and 10 children.
Empower Yolo offers short-term therapy services for adult and child victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. Therapy services are available in-person, via Zoom, in English, and Spanish. “Zoom appointments have been immensely helpful for those who do not have childcare and/or have transportation barriers,” says Rodriquez.
“Therapy provides a safe space for clients to process their trauma experiences without fear of judgment or blame. Therapy services focus on processing trauma, learning about common trauma responses, learning about intergenerational violence, healthy coping strategies, reducing shame and self-blaming thoughts, developing healthy boundaries, increasing self-worth, and much more,” shares Rodriquez.
Empower Yolo currently offers a domestic violence support group via Zoom in both English and Spanish. Support groups focused on sexual abuse, self-care, and teen victims have been available in the past. “Experiences of domestic violence and sexual assault can be overwhelming and isolating. The support groups provide an opportunity for clients to share their experiences without judgment and to feel less lonely in their experiences. The support group also reviews a variety of topics related to domestic violence to help clients gain a better understanding of their experiences and to feel more equipped to avoid abusive relationships in the future,” says Rodriquez. For more info, visit empoweryolo.org/counseling-services/.
Community support is crucial in reducing the shame and self-blame that victims often experience after domestic violence and sexual assault. Community support can start with acknowledging and educating themselves on the short-term and long-term impact of domestic violence and sexual assault on mental health. “It is important not to shame victims for struggling emotionally months/years after the traumatic experience and be mindful of the language used when speaking to the victim regarding the domestic violence and sexual assault to not re-traumatize or blame victims,” emphasizes Rodriquez.
The community can further support them by encouraging victims to seek help if needed, rather than shaming them for needing mental health services. The community can also support mental health awareness by reducing barriers to accessing mental health services, such as language barriers, affordability, and/or accessibility.
Empower Yolo’s After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) program supports students’ mental health through its awareness month campaign in May.
Raising awareness about mental health for youths is important. “It helps students understand that mental health matters, reduces stigma, and opens conversations that encourage seeking help and supporting one another,” says Daniela Talavera Rangel, Director of Youth Programs, Empower Yolo.
ASSETs is hosting a month-long series of workshops including themed spirit days to raise awareness (like “Wear Green” for Mental Health visibility), weekly workshops on mental health topics, an open mic night, a reflection event, and decorating our office with student-created emotion bubbles that highlight what students have learned throughout the month and to open up the conversation around mental health.
ASSETs staff reports seeing more mental health struggles with students as they provide support and resources. “We support students by creating safe spaces to talk, offering weekly wellness workshops, referring students to resources they may need, including counselors and school psychologists, and encouraging creative expression, self-care, coping strategies, and peer connection,” says Talavera Rangel.
The community can support youths’ mental health by sharing mental health resources, donating food for ASSETs gatherings, or simply helping spread the message: “You are not alone. Break the stigma – seek help.”
As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, we underscore the importance of community support and education in promoting mental well-being. We are particularly dedicated to supporting survivors of abuse, who are at a heightened risk of mental health challenges.
Join us this month in supporting mental health and spreading awareness in our community. By working together, we can create a future where everyone feels empowered and understood in their journey toward mental wellness.