AUGUSTA, Ga. () – April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and VA Augusta is offering free services for military sexual trauma survivors.

Sexual trauma can impact survivors’ physical and mental work as well as their everyday relationships with family and friends many years later.

An estimated 20,000 service members experience sexual assault or trauma at some point in their career.

A doctor at the VA Augusta Medical Center, Dr. Shannon Rogers the Clinical Psychologist and Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator, says there isn’t one correct way to get a victim the care they need because everyone’s experiences look different.

“What we find is that to come in and to talk about what happened, to process what happened, and I’m not saying that’s easy, it can be really difficult but to know that you have a mental health provider there that is with you and supporting you through that, that can really make a difference in people’s lives.” Rogers said.

She says there are different services offered for service members depending on the kind of treatment they need.

“Whether it’s coming in and getting support for coping skills, or severe depression that might result from having MST, up to doing trauma focused therapy, and maybe moving in between those levels.” said Rogers.

The services are confidential and free, and you do not need documentation of the incident to receive care.

Rogers said it is always a good time for someone to reach out, “A lot of people think, ‘well it happened so long ago, it won’t help me, treatment won’t help me’ but it can, I’ve seen it help people. It’s never too late to call just to get information and it’s never too late to start living your life the way you really want to live it.” 

The services are free for MST survivors at any time during the year.