The Mental & Physical Effects of CRSV Explained

Silent War Crime

War is devastating on the mental psyche. It causes soaring rates of depression, and anxiety amongst civilians.

Similarly, depression, suicidality, and PTSD are common mental health effects of sexual violence.

However, Conflict Related Sexual Violence combines these two situations. As a result, CRSV survivors are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, sleeplessness and PTSD. 

They are more likely to experience long term psychological distress and often face a slower mental health recovery than their counterparts who were not sexually violated during a conflict.

Interestingly enough, a study examining CRSV survivor’s recovery showed that men were 59% more likely to experience severe mental health symptoms than women. 

Furthermore, CRSV survivors may experience physical health consequences like:

• Pregnancy

• Forced sterilization

• Somatic complaints

• Infectious complications like HIV, hepatitis and urinary tract infections 

• Abdominal, bladder, and reproductive organ injuries. 

Due to the way they were assaulted, some survivors have developed life-long injuries with their backs, urinary tracts, intestines, and/or reproductive organs etc. 

Furthermore, this list does not include the additional injuries survivor’s sustained while being assaulted like:

• Broken bones

• Fractures

• Concussions

• Cuts and bruises 

The extent of a survivor’s physical injuries has a significant role on the state of their mental health. Chronic pain or life-long injuries tend to worsen mental health. 

According to a 2018-2019 field study, survivors were more likely to see improvements in their mental health if they received psychological support within 72 hours of their assault. 

The survivors who showed the most improvement had a minimum of three sessions.

However, most survivors did not receive mental health support within the first 72 hours. Of those that did, many did not return after the first session. 

The study noted that the dropoff in attendance could have been due to many different factors including access barriers to receiving support and not noticing improvement.

Some barriers can include:

• Lack of transportation

• Inability to pay for medication and services

• Movement restrictions because of security concerns or living situation

• Fear of stigma 

It is important to note that a survivor’s culture plays a massive role in their willingness to receive psychological support, how they view and describe their symptoms, and the methods they take in trying to move on with their lives.

For instance, certain cultures are more likely to recognize depression as something that must be “powered through”/ignored rather than as an illness that must be treated.