According to an official at Lexington Veterans Affairs Healthcare, one in three women enrolled there have experienced some form of military sexual trauma – or MST. Liz Rudisell is the Military Sexual Trauma Care Coordinator there, and a psychologist. She said one in 50 male vets they see also report MST – and both sets of numbers have increased in recent years.
“What we know is that this is a problem that people are looking more closely at; people are coming forward more often, whether they're still in the military, or whether it's when we get them for health care.”
Rudisell encouraged veterans with MST to take advantage of the VA’s counseling and other sorts of treatment.
“The mind and the body are so connected, that trauma, and a chronic trauma, stressor, expresses itself in physical ways, too. So there are physical health conditions that people with a past history of sexual trauma go on at higher rates to develop.”
Rudisell said vets with MST are also entitled to free specialty care and medication. April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and she said the VA’s theme this year is “finding your path to healing.”
Dr. Liz Rudisell
Lexington VA Health Care System
2250 Leestown Road
Lexington, KY 40511
859-233-4511 x3443
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