Talking Sexual Assault & Suicide with Black Women in Medicine

Why are we talking about sexual assault during Suicide Prevention Month?

I was recently contacted by Black Women in Medicine at University of South Florida to speak at an event on sexual assault. I was not only excited to accept the invitation, but extremely excited to have this conversation during Suicide Prevention Month because though it’s not spoken of enough, rape and sexual assault can often trigger depression, substance abuse and even suicidal idealization.

Enough Is Enough

Black Women in Medicine is holding Enough is Enough on September 15, 2020, as their first campus wide event. Usually, meetings and events are restricted to members and special invited guests but these young women, soon to all be medical professionals, feels that this topic is so important that they are opening the doors to their entire campus.

As a woman who survived long-term sexual assault as a child, rape as an adult and fought off would be attackers, this is a topic very near to Me. In fact, the last time I was suicidal in 2013, around the time My kitten, Geo, died, I was nearly raped by a guy I thought was My friend. I found Myself crying on YouTube and saying how I was going to end up in jail for murdering someone’s son because I was so tired of men attempting to take My body without My permission.

When I speak with this organization, how sexual assault can lead a victim to shame, guilt, depression and eventually, suicide, will be a large part of My presentation.