Sexual assault is one of the most serious traumas an individual can experience. In the United States, a woman or man is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds, with nearly half a million victims each year. Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (rain). RAINN defines sexual assault as “sexual contact or conduct without the explicit consent of the victim,” including rape and attempted rape, fondling or unwanted sexual contact, and forcing the victim to engage in sexual activity.

Victims leave deep and lasting physical, emotional, spiritual and social effects. The study “PTSD One Year After Sexual Assault: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies,” published in the journal Trauma, Violence, and Abuse, reports that 75 percent of sexual assault victims meet the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ) one month later, while about 42% were still meeting PTSD criteria one year later.

Following a sexual assault, survivors seeking urgent care can expect consultations with medical and social service providers, interviews with law enforcement and criminal justice officials, and the physically invasive and emotionally distressing collection of forensic evidence. Unfortunately and inevitably, the outcome of this care and support for survivors of sexual assault is inherently complex, time-consuming, and often re-traumatic.

Emergency facilities are often staffed with trained professionals who can provide medical and forensic responses to trauma victims, including survivors of sexual assault. In many of these settings, “trauma-informed care” (TIC) occurs in areas designated to accommodate physical and psychological trauma. These spaces incorporate the principles of TIC into the design of the built environment (defined as “trauma-informed design” or TID), serving all trauma survivors equally.

However, the healthcare system increasingly believes that this is not enough. A growing number of individuals are adding separate sexual assault response facilities (SARFs), adjacent to or embedded in emergency rooms (EDs), to address the unique physical, emotional, clinical and judicial considerations of urgent sexual assault treatment, both of which are For survivors and caregivers.

Working with healthcare provider specialists in the sexual assault field and building on existing work by TID specialists, Taylor Design Developed some best practices for designing emergency facilities for survivors of sexual assault.

Emphasize safety
In a well-conceived SARF program, sexual assault survivors are triaged in the emergency room and escorted to an absolutely non-clinical and naturally lit lounge. From the lounge, survivors move to the consultation room and then into the forensic examination room. Immediately after the forensic examination, survivors have access to spacious bathrooms and private showers. Because of the personal intrusiveness of forensic evidence collection, the survivor’s path never intersects with the forensic examination room again.

To ensure survivors feel and experience safety, the SARF is a single function space with no other use within the hospital. Whether the SARF is within or near the ED, designers should ensure that it is discreet in terms of signage or other identifying features. For example, signage should be compliant with facility standards and more akin to facility support spaces than the public-facing signage of an independent clinic. Access to the SARF is highly controlled, with a locked access point and entrance only to specially trained care teams. The location of this access point in relation to staff workstations, counseling spaces, forensic examination rooms, and wardrobes should be planned for optimal privacy and safety for survivors.

Where possible, designers should provide natural lighting and views to help survivors feel comfortable and connect with the flow of the outside world. If direct visibility into the public space is possible, the SARF can be kept private using external screened fencing, dense enough planting, and ample space between SARF windows and the public realm. If the space has no windows, take advantage of products that offer time-based lighting profiles, such as transitioning to LEDs that mimic blue skies and sunsets.

Subtle design choices, such as artwork and color palettes, can create a calming space without increasing the risk of triggering re-trauma. Art within the space should feature abstract imagery without an immediately recognizable form, theme or theme that has the potential to lead survivors to relive their experiences of the attack. Throughout the facility, color choices, such as earth tones and soft neutrals, help create a sense of warmth.

give control and agency
At the heart of sexual assault is an individual losing control and agency over their own body. Dedicated facilities must provide survivors with as much control and agency as possible. After the forensic examination, survivors are encouraged to shower in private bathrooms for as long as possible. An all-in-one wardrobe provides room for a choice of fresh and comfortable clothes, with enough options to fit all unique bodies. In the bathroom and closet areas, high-quality and other non-clinical choices of materials, finishes and furniture, such as oversized showers or expansive vanities, help provide a private, intuitive and generous experience.

After this private time, survivors can choose to return to the lounge or counseling room next to each other (to be determined). To give survivors a sense of control in both areas, designers can incorporate separate lighting and audio controls, use well-stocked food and drink alcoves, and plenty of power outlets to charge devices. Creating places of solitude while keeping survivors safe and stable increases the likelihood of ongoing support and treatment success.

Design Responsibilities
Sexual assault is a deep and unique trauma that requires facilities designed specifically for survivors. The care delivery process can be a long, stressful and re-traumatic experience, but designers can use best practices to tailor treatment spaces to make survivors feel safe, calm, and in control. ?

Teresa Endres is Program Director and Chief Medical Planner at Taylor Design (Sacramento, CA).she can be Trending @wearetaylor.com. Matt Johnson is the Northern California Regional Director for Taylor Design (San Francisco).he can [email protected]. Aaron McKenzie is a Senior Strategist at Taylor Design (San Francisco).he can [email protected].