The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) has always amplified the voices of survivors, now more than ever in the aftermath of #MeToo. According to the Women's Media Center, survivor stories in mainstream media increased 52% in total coverage between 2017 and 2018 as the hashtag took off, with producers taking news stories and converting them into documentaries and fictionalized accounts across television and film. The result is an increasing presence of potentially triggering news stories and media content readily accessible to victims and their loved ones.
"Having all these stories come at you at once can have a big effect on people," said Scott Berkowitz, president of RAINN. "Sexual assault tends to be something [in which] the memories never go away. The effects of it never go away, but they ebb and flow in terms of how front of mind they are and how much they're affecting a survivor's life at that moment. So the inundation definitely can have a cumulative impact and bring up a lot of memories and experiences that have been pushed into the background for a while."
Traumatic triggers are important to understand in the context of media coverage. A trigger can be anything that reminds an individual of a personal experience or situation, causing an uncomfortable and even painful remembrance that can be accompanied by emotional and physical distress. This trauma response is often involuntary, but RAINN President Scott Berkowitz counsels that victims have some control even as upsetting news stories proliferate. The nonprofit organization, which operates the nation's National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-4673), reminds individuals that they're in control of the media they consume, advising them to heed warning signs of discomfort and encouraging them to turn away from stories that they find upsetting.
This has been another notable year with respect to the prevalence of sexual violence cases receiving media attention. The trial, verdict, and sentencing of That '70s Show actor Danny Masterson, alongside coverage of recent allegations regarding comedian Russell Brand, continue to push sexual assault and misconduct cases into the spotlight. RAINN reports increases in calls to its hotline in the wake of many mainstream news events involving sexual assault. Following immediate coverage of the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard verdict in 2022, the RAINN hotline experienced a 35% uptick in call volume. Similarly, the hotline received a 50% increase in calls after the Lifetime Network aired Surviving R. Kelly: The Final Chapter. "Many of the survivors who called had never told anyone what happened before speaking with RAINN's hotline staff," noted Scott Berkowitz's RAINN.
Whether in news or fictionalized format, not everyone will react to media triggers the same way. Yet viewing coverage of someone else's sexual assault can remind survivors of their own experiences in ways for which they may not be prepared.
While it is natural for survivors of sexual assault to experience intense feelings when taking in relatable news stories, Berkowitz notes that these victims can also use the stirring of emotions to take action. "These high-profile cases often prompt a desire to get help," explained Berkowitz. Those calling into the hotline following difficult news coverage "tend to be looking for emotional support, for tips on self-care or ways to deal with the immediate effect that it's having on them so that they can go on living their life and doing their job or going to school and tending to their family. They're looking for that balance that has been upset by having to read or see so many stories that remind them of their own assault."
Reaching out for help can prove to be a positive outcome for anyone triggered by media content, especially when provided with the right resources. If you or someone you know needs support, please call the free, confidential hotline by phone at 800-656-HOPE or online chat at online.rainn.org. Service is available 24/7 in English and Spanish.
