April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time designated to focus on the staggering problem of sexual violence.

During April, Catholic Charities, Inc., Guardian Sexual Assault Center would like your help to raise the awareness of sexual violence in Southwest Mississippi due to the staggeringly high rate of sexual violence, which needs to be brought into the public focus.

Until the problem is openly discussed, it will never go away. Therefore, the theme for April is “Believe Me. Rape is a problem … a problem we can talk about.”

If you think you aren’t affected by sexual violence, you’re wrong. One recent study found that 18 percent of women in this country have been raped in their lifetime.

In addition, rates of sexual assault remain startlingly high for students from high school to college. A 2005 survey of high school students found that 10.8 percent of girls and 4.2 percent of boys from grades nine to 12 were forced to have sexual intercourse at some time in their lives. However, this figure does not include alcohol or drug facilitated rapes, attempted rapes, statutory rapes, rapes against women under age 18, boys or men — all of whom are frequent victims.

Sexual violence happens to those of all income levels, races, and neighborhoods. It happens at all times of the day and night. And because less than 40 percent of all rapes are ever reported to police, the numbers may actually be much higher. Victims of all ages suffer from both the physical and emotional consequences of the attack.

Sexual assault can lead to long-term health problems including chronic pain, stomach problems and sexually transmitted diseases. It can also cause severe emotional harm that my be even more painful than the assault itself and resulting physical injuries. The effects of sexual assault go well beyond the direct victim: sexual assault also has a profound impact on a victim’s family, friends, neighbors, and workplace.

Victims need an array of services to heal from the trauma of sexual assault, including crisis intervention, 24-hour sexual assault hotlines, medical and criminal justice accompaniment, advocacy, and counseling. The staff at Catholic Charities Inc., Guardian Shelter Assault Center work tirelessly to help victims cope with the trauma of sexual assault and transition from “victim” to “survivor.”

Unfortunately, we can’t make it go away by ignoring it.

April is designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month to provide opportunities for everyone to learn more about sexual violence and how we can and must take action to stop it. Though rape is an enormous problem, it is “a problem we can talk about.” Remember that Sexual Assault Awareness Month provides an excellent opportunity for discussing a variety of issues related to sexual violence, including how to prevent it.

For information about activities, events, or information about sexual violence or services available to victims, contact Catholic Charities Inc., Guardian Sexual Assault Center at 601-446-8668, toll-free at 1-888-721-5460 or the 24-hour National Sexual Violence Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Sandra Davis is is the director of the Guardian Sexual Assault Center.