Rape victims are facing six months wait for counselling

Date Published: {J}

By Bernie Ní Fhlatharta

 Rape and sexual assault victims are facing a waiting list of up to six months for counselling due to lack of funding.

 The Galway Rape Crisis Centre is facing a financial crisis due to a funding cut and a huge drop in fundraising figures.

 But there has been no such drop in the demand for the services of the GRCC and 2010 saw an increase of 20% in their counselling and helpline services.

 According to its annual report for 2010, which was launched this week, the Centre, which opened in Galway 25 years ago, saw nearly 20% more clients than the previous year, and heard from just over 600 in the locality.

 There was also a stark rise in the number of people contacting its helpline in 2010, with the centre answering 440 more calls than 2009.

 The percentage of men using the service also rose from 12% to 14%. Significantly, 2010 saw a rise in people aged from 50-59 seeking help from the centre – many had waited decades before seeking support. The majority of these were survivors of child sexual abuse, as were over 60% of the centre’s clients.

 In 2010, the centre received 50 callouts to recent assaults, with an alarming 40% involving teenage victims – so far this year they have had 75 callouts.

 Aoibheann McCann, Executive Director of the GRCC said: “Counselling is crucial for victims of any sexual assault and the sooner the better. It is not ideal that there would be a six month wait on one-to-one counselling, which we have had to cut back because of lack of funds.”

 For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.