The number of people referred to the Assault, Response & Care Centre has doubled. Based out of the Brockville General Hospital, the program provides counselling services, group therapy and peer support for victims of sexual assault and spousal abuse.
The centre typically has around 120 referrals per year. Since the #MeToo movement, that number has jumped to 240.
Director of Mental Health Peter Kennedy says the centre’s capacity to provide public education becomes eroded because of the immediate demands of individuals at the doorstep.
The centre has a manager, two full-time counsellors and a part-time peer support worker. It serves over 100,000 people across Leeds and Grenville, which equals one counsellor for every 30,000 residents.
Kennedy says the trend is likely to continue. He says he doesn’t think the #MeToo movement is a blip, but rather an important milestone for society.
To find out more about the centre, click here.Â