THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF CRIME ON VICTIMS

In India, sexual crime against women is rapidly increasing. One in four women experiences sexual or physical crime in India. On September 29, 2020, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released data showing that an average of 87 cases per day and a total of 4,05,861 cases of crime against women have been recorded in 2019. There is a 7% hike from 2018. To avail the right law news, notes, and mock paper can visit the site - “Law Planet”.

Even when people are locked in their house due to pandemic violence against women have not decreased or stopped but more cases have been recorded during the pandemic. An increase in violence against women has been recorded during COVID-19.

Sexual or physical assault not only takes place on a person's body but also on their soul. It leaves such a deep impact that it can affect mental health. The most heinous crime of all is Rape.

Rape is a gruesome and disgusting act of violating a person’s body.

Everyone talks about the mentality of the perpetrator but no one talks about the mental situation of the victim. The victim is left so traumatized by the incident that it leads to psychological problems. As much as punishment is considered important to the perpetrator, it is also crucial to give importance to the mental health of the victim.

Impact On Mental Health:

1. Depression: The most common psychological disorder in sexual crime victims is depression. Depression can be said to be a feeling of pervasive low mood, excessive irritability, frequent crying spells, social withdrawal, and food and sleep changes for over 6 months.

2. Flashbacks: It happens when memories of post-trauma start feeling like it’s happening all over again. It detaches a person from reality as it becomes difficult to differentiate between reality and flashbacks. It gives a feeling that the perpetrator is physically present again.

3. Post: Traumatic Stress - PTSD is characterized by a feeling of reliving the traumatic event, dreams, intentionally avoiding scenarios that could make you remember the trauma, changing behavior by loss of interest in a previously pleasurable activity, insomnia, always on the edge feeling. PTSD gives a feeling of constant danger and hence makes it difficult to function properly in daily life.

4. Self–Harm: Some sexual survivors use self-harm to cope up with their feelings. Self-harm can be biting, cutting, burning, pulling out hair, etc,. Self-harm gives the victim the feeling of regaining control or it eases out the pain. Self-harm should not be confused with a suicidal person.

5. Suicide: Sexual assault victims start getting suicidal thoughts.

6. Substance Abuse - many of the sexual assault victims start using substances like alcohol or drugs to ease out pain, to feel better.

7. Panic Attack: A sudden feeling of fear or anxiety. A panic attack is common with people who have experienced sexual trauma, abuse, or extreme stress. Symptoms of a panic attack are shaking, chest pain. Sweating, pounding heartbeat, nausea, difficulty in breathing, etc,.

8. Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD): STD is a bacterial infection that is passed from one person to another through intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral).

9. Pregnancy: Every rape victim have fear of getting pregnant from the attack.

10. Eating Disorder: It causes unhealthy eating habits such as excessive eating, reduction in food intake, etc.

The aforementioned are the few psychological problems faced by sexual assault victims. In India, psychological problems are not as recognized as they should be. It is an Indian mentality to think mental problems do not exist. That’s why it causes more problems for victims in India to cope up with the trauma. Around 80% of girls have at least one mental health disorder. Law always plays a crucial role in a country's development. To know about the “Harvey V Facey Case” can visit and explore the knowledge.

There Are Many Myths Attached to the Rape and Sexual Assault. Some of them Are;

1. Women ask for it by the way they dress or behave

2. Rapes can be avoided if women really want to

3. Rape is only done by strangers

4. If a woman didn't try to fight back, then she wanted it.

5. Women should go out alone.

6. Men don’t get raped

7. Women is not capable of committing a sexual offense

How Can You Cope Up with Mental Health Disorders:

1. Talk about the incident, reach out to someone, it can either be a person you trust or a professional. Keep your spirit high and try to stay motivated.

2. Overcome the feeling of guilt. Stop blaming yourself for the attack. Accept that it wasn’t your fault. You didn’t call this on yourself. The best way to deal with such feelings is to help others to overcome their problems.

3. Seek help from professionals for mental health problems. Keep checking on yourself.

4. Get back to a normal lifestyle, the lifestyle you had before the attack. Opt for activities such as yoga, meditation to keep yourself calm and understand your mind’s reactions to things.

5. Avoid substances

6. Be patient and deal with your feelings slowly.

There Are few organizations that work towards the development and education of mental health:

1. RAHI Foundation: It works towards the help in the healing of women survivors from sexual traumas. They also spread awareness of the importance of mental health.

2. Mental Health First Aid India: Mental Health First Aid is an Australian course. It has developed into a global movement. It has licensed programs in 27 countries including India. Its main objective is to spread mental health literacy in Indian society and remove its stigma. Its mission is to bring balance between mental and physical health. In India, MHFA India has its branch in Chennai. It provides training across the country through recognized instructors. To know about the “Cognizable and Non-Cognizable Offence” can visit and explore the information.

Conclusion:

India still lacks to recognize mental health as an actual problem. It should be given as much importance as it is given to physical problems. There are laws to give punishment to the perpetrator (section 375 and 376 of Indian Penal Code) but there are not sufficient organizations to help sexual assault victims. There are organizations such as RAHI Foundation but they are also not properly equipped or skilled to treat such victims. There is an urgent need to normalize psychological problems. It is an Indian mentality to feel ashamed to seek professional psychological help. Government should aim to remove this stigma from Indian society by making it compulsory for victims to attend therapy to deal with the attack.