Dr. Debra Houry here. I'll be online July 29th to discuss Sexual Violence and the Power of Prevention. What questions do you have?

Debra Houry — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 10:26:16 -0400

CDC’s Acting Principal Deputy Director, Dr. Debra Houry will be here on July 29th from 3 - 4PM ET to answer your questions about Sexual Violence and the Power of Prevention.

Debra Houry, MD, MPH, is the Acting Principal Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She previously served as the Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she led innovative research and science-based programs to prevent injuries and violence and to reduce their consequences. Dr. Houry has also served as an associate professor at Emory University and emergency physician at Grady Memorial Hospital. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on injury prevention and violence. She has received many national awards, including the first Linda Saltzman Memorial Intimate Partner Violence Researcher Award from the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma, and the Academy of Women in Academic Emergency Medicine’s Researcher Award. Dr. Houry was elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine, which is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. Recently, Dr. Houry served as the Prevention Co-Lead for the Department of Defense’s 2021 Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military Structure and Membership.

Dr. Houry will be answering questions about sexual violence among the active duty military and Veteran communities as well in the United States more generally. Dr. Houry will also answer questions about the power of prevention and how we all play a role in preventing sexual violence before it happens.

Sexual violence is a significant problem in the United States. Sexual violence refers to sexual activity when consent is not obtained or not given freely. Sexual violence impacts every community and affects people of all genders, sexual orientations, and ages. Anyone can experience or perpetrate sexual violence. The perpetrator of sexual violence is usually someone the victim knows, such as a friend, current or former intimate partner, coworker, neighbor, or family member. Sexual violence can occur in person, online, or through technology, such as posting or sharing sexual pictures of someone without their consent, or non-consensual sexting. Military sexual trauma (MST) includes sexual assault or sexual harassment experienced during military service.

Sexual violence, including MST, impacts health in many ways and can lead to short- and long-term physical and mental health problems. This is why CDC focuses on preventing sexual violence before it happens. Changing social norms, teaching skills, empowering communities, and creating protective environments can help prevent sexual violence. We all have a role to play in prevention.

* Resources for Immediate Assistance *

Safe Helpline:
https://safehelpline.org/

National Domestic Violence Hotline:
https://www.thehotline.org/

RAINN:
https://www.rainn.org/get-help

Strong Hearts Native Helpline:
https://strongheartshelpline.org/

* Additional Resources *

CDC’s ‘What is Sexual Violence?’ Video:
https://youtu.be/LWctQH4C0P8 [En Español: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GoFqgAuc1Q]

CDC’s Sexual Violence overview:
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/index.html

CDC’s STOP SV- A Technical Package to Prevent Sexual Violence: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/prevention.html

CDC’s Sexual Violence Media Guide: https://vetoviolence.cdc.gov/sites/all/themes/veto_bootstrap/assets/sexual violence-landing/SEXUAL VIOLENCE-MediaGuide-508c.pdf

Department of Veteran’s Affairs:
https://www.va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/military-sexual-trauma/

Department of Defense:
https://dod.defense.gov/News/Special-Reports/0416_sexual-assault-awareness-and-prevention/

Department of Defense’s Independent Review Commission Recommendations on Countering Sexual Assault in the Military:
https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2681145/independent-review-commission-recommendations-on-countering-sexual-assault-in-t/

National Sexual Violence Resource Center:
https://www.nsexual violencerc.org/

Futures Without Violence:
https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/

Raliance:
https://www.raliance.org/

PreventConnect:
http://www.preventconnect.org/

Prevention Institute:
https://preventioninstitute.org/publications/health-equity-approach-preventing-sexual-violence

Home | Safe helpline

Response by CPT David Gowel made Jul 19 at 2021 11:05 AM

CPT David Gowel — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 11:05:32 -0400

Debra Houry Thank you for joining us to discuss such an important issue as this. We often interact with servicemembers, veterans, and family members on RallyPoint talking about their personal challenges with sexual abuse for themselves or their loved ones but they are reluctant to raise it to their chain of command or struggle with how to deal with it after they get out of the military. What advice do you have for those of us who have no clinical training on this issue but want to help one of our peers who shares such challenges and also wants 100% confidentiality while trying to figure out what to do?

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2021 7:38 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 19:38:31 -0400

You mean marital rape? Let's not dance around the issue. No means no. Salesmen learn that every no is a maybe, but not with the unwilling.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Jul 20 at 2021 7:39 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 19:39:07 -0400

Great information! Thank you!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2021 5:11 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 05:11:30 -0400

Doc. Who is your target audience for this

Response by PFC Donnie Harold Harris made Jul 23 at 2021 10:18 AM

PFC Donnie Harold Harris — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 10:18:41 -0400

How long will you carry the experience and the decisions made by it into your future and future sexual relationships?

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 29 at 2021 1:53 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 13:53:26 -0400

I applaud your working with victims of sexual violence, and your compassion for your work ma'am Debra Houry

Response by Sydney Glynn made Jul 29 at 2021 1:56 PM

Sydney Glynn — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 13:56:52 -0400

Thank you for all the impactful work you do! What steps should a civilian supporter take to help a loved one struggling to cope with the trauma of assault?

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Jul 29 at 2021 2:44 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:44:32 -0400

Men tend to not report incidents of sexual violence (harassment, rape, and molestation) out of fear of being seen as less by their peers. With the repeal of DADT and the open recruitment of gays and TG's into the military [where they are given a somewhat protected status as well as influence that is felt well beyond their actual numbers in society (~1.6%-)], what impact has that had on the number of reported AND UNREPORTED incidents of violence against straight males/females by members of the LGBTQ+ community? One can only imagine that it would increase as we bring more LBGTQ+ people into the military, that these numbers would go up. Is it worth the risk and additional expense?

Also, what impact does it have on morale? In combat, is it fair to the straight males who are going without, to have two gay guys in the unit who are getting their needs met in the field? And would it impact judgment? You see two men injured and one of them is your lover, but his wounds are life-threatening but less severe... Do you tend to him first?

I have to wonder if taxpayers are getting the best bang for the buck because of all the extra logistics and expense of incorporating gender-fluid individuals in our armed forces... people who require hormone therapy, mental health issues, etc. < things that are much more prevalent in the LGBTQ+ crowd. Your thoughts?

Response by SGT Elizabeth Hoo made Jul 29 at 2021 3:18 PM

SGT Elizabeth Hoo — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 15:18:05 -0400

What are some strategies for preventing sexual violence?

Response by Ryan Callahan made Jul 29 at 2021 3:28 PM

Ryan Callahan — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 15:28:40 -0400

What kind of resources does CDC have to help communities implement sexual violence prevention?

Response by Jennifer Ranaudo made Jul 29 at 2021 3:30 PM

Jennifer Ranaudo — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 15:30:20 -0400

Thank you for taking the time to answer questions on this important topic. We’ve seen the lasting impact that generational predators in power have had on the women’s gymnastics team. Assault is always a traumatic thing to speak about privately let alone report it especially when it involves higher ups. What advice do you give to young women in the military who have either witnessed or been subjected to sexual assault by someone in power?

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2021 3:31 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 15:31:08 -0400

Debra Houry - Thanks for taking the time to answer questions from the RallyPoint community! How has COVID-19 impacted rates of sexual violence and intimate partner violence?