The long term health impacts of rape

More young people will now suffer the health impacts of rape than smoking (the government’s current largest health priority).

90%+ of rape survivors suffer symptoms of trauma and 50% will have diagnosable PTSD at 6 months. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as violence, accidents, or abuse. Its symptoms include vivid flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, sleep problems, and emotional numbness. PTSD can significantly disrupt daily life by affecting mood, concentration, and the ability to feel safe or connected to others. If untreated, it can lead to chronic distress, difficulties in personal relationships, work problems, and other mental health issues like depression or substance misuse. The impacts of PTSD are profound, often requiring professional support to help manage symptoms and restore normal functioning.

About 20% of survivors will suffer PTSD for longer than 10 years, some for life, literally ruining it. The average survivor ius raped aged 24, therefore the trauma caused may have to be endured for 50 years or more.

About 15% of survivors attempt to commit suicide and about 2% eventually achieve it. This means that 9,000 people a year are losing their lives due to rape. 1,600 lose their lives in car crashes

Emerging worldwide research is showing that the increased mortality risk from PTSD is 35-45% pa. This means that every year post rape a survivor may have a 40% higher chance than normal of dying every year. This is caused by the impacts of the associated conditions: Cancer, depression, hypertension, stress, substance abuse, etc.

This means that Rape may now cause more lost life than smoking.

Overall, the impact on loss of quality of life, loss of life, lost contribution to society, and lost happiness is vast. As with smoking, the cost to the NHS is also vast. The Government spends c. £280m on smoking prevention; and it seems likely that Rape prevention will need to invest similar magnitudes of resources over extended timescales if we are to achieve the reduction required