Augusta, Ga. – April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, a time dedicated to bringing attention to the needs of survivors and promoting prevention efforts. In honor of this month, the VA Augusta Medical Center is offering free services to military sexual trauma (MST) survivors, providing them with a much-needed resource for healing and recovery.

Sexual trauma can have a lasting impact on survivors, affecting their physical and mental health as well as their relationships with family and friends. For military members, the trauma experienced during service can be particularly challenging to process, often leaving long-term emotional scars.

An estimated 20,000 service members experience sexual assault or trauma during their careers. These experiences, however, do not define the survivors, and help is available. The VA Augusta Medical Center offers a variety of confidential and free services for military sexual trauma survivors, ensuring that they can receive the care and support they need at any point in their journey toward healing.

Dr. Shannon Rogers, a Clinical Psychologist and Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator at the center, explains that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting survivors of MST. “What we find is that coming in and talking about what happened—processing the trauma—is not easy. It can be very difficult, but having a mental health provider who is there with you and supporting you throughout the process can really make a difference in people’s lives,” she said.

The services at VA Augusta are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual. Whether a survivor is seeking support for coping with trauma, addressing severe depression, or engaging in trauma-focused therapy, the center offers a range of treatments designed to help survivors heal. In some cases, treatment may involve moving between different levels of care depending on the survivor’s needs at any given time.

What makes these services even more accessible is that survivors do not need to provide documentation of the incident in order to receive care. Dr. Rogers emphasized that anyone who has experienced MST is encouraged to reach out, regardless of when the trauma occurred. “A lot of people think, ‘Well, it happened so long ago, treatment won’t help me,’ but it can. I’ve seen it help people,” Rogers said. “It’s never too late to get information or start the healing process. It’s never too late to start living your life the way you really want to live it.”

The free services offered by the VA Augusta Medical Center are available year-round, not just during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. The center is committed to providing ongoing support for MST survivors, ensuring that they have access to the resources necessary to begin their journey toward healing.

For more information or to access services, survivors are encouraged to reach out to the VA Augusta Medical Center.

By offering free, confidential services and a compassionate approach to treatment, the VA Augusta Medical Center is helping survivors of military sexual trauma reclaim their lives and move forward toward a healthier future.