Sexual Harassment Is Not Only Physical. Here Are The Mental Health Impacts Of It On The Victim?

Several cases of women being sexually harassed have come to our attention. A lot of the recent cases involve college professors harassing their students or their colleagues. This makes one think: if people with qualified degrees and superior education are also going ahead with one of the worst forms of crime, then what can be expected out of the rest?

However, this is not the first time that allegations of sexual harassment have surfaced. Cases of sexual and physical harassment have continued over the years and, as it turns out, they are only increasing. According to a survey by the National Family Health Survey-5, nearly one-third of women in India have experienced physical or sexual violence. According to this survey, which was released by the Union Health Minister, 30% of women between the ages of 18 and 49 have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. Other than that, 6% of women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.

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The NFHS-5 is based on a sample survey of 1 lakh households conducted by the ministry between January 2015 and December 2016 as part of a larger effort to assess health and nutrition indicators in women, children, and adolescents.

But one can note that these are the numbers based on women reporting the harassment to the authorities. There are still hundreds and thousands of women who have refrained from talking about sexual and physical harassment.

What kinds of harassment are prevalent?

Those who suffer harassment can go through it literally anywhere. It can be in a public space, the workplace, at home or school, in person, online, by phone, or by text. The sad reality about it is that any person of any gender and any age can experience it.

The one type of harassment known as "workplace harassment" can be of different types: verbal, written, physical, or visual. It may involve bullying, retaliation in the workplace, or derogatory comments¡ªeven during a job interview. "It was my first job straight out of college, and I had joined a start-up. I was so excited to start my journey as a professional. But my supervisor made me stay after work hours and said how I needed to "learn more." One day, when the office was empty, he started asking about my boyfriend and how he and I would look good together. I got really weirded out after that day and couldn't work with him after that. I left that job one month after that incident," says 28-year-old Riya (name changed for privacy).

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The second kind of harassment is unsolicited verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature. But this is not only limited to sexual advances or just sexual favors. "I was once at a really nice house party. There were people who were really intellectual. I was talking to a woman's husband, who was there with his wife. We talked a lot about culture and politics. Suddenly, out of the blue, he asked me to join him in the washroom and 'take it forward. His wife was right there. I panicked and I took off," says 32-year-old Garima (name changed for privacy).

How does sexual harassment impact the victim's mental health?

"I was going home from work via the yellow line metro, and it is very crowded during peak office hours. The ladies' compartment hadn't started till then. I remember I had to get off at Kashmere Gate, and while I was being pushed by people to get out, someone grabbed my breast and pinched it. I was so shocked that I couldn't think. The worst part was that it was so crowded that I didn't even know who it was. I came back home and cried. I did not take the metro for a while after that. I was extremely traumatised. Even now the thought of that incident still traumatises me," says 55-year-old Reema (Name changed for privacy purposes).

As per reports and studies, sexual harassment can cause self-blame and isolation among the victims. It is also noted that people who go through this trauma experience flashbacks and panic attacks as part of post-traumatic stress disorder. They can also develop substance abuse issues, have suicide attempts, or have a full case of major depressive disorder.

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Other than that, people who come out and talk about harassment face several obstacles when they come forward. Their harassers could retaliate. They could be ostracised by their colleagues. Moreover, they could be called liars, so there is more at stake, leading the victim to go into depression and anxiety as well. This could also lead to physical symptoms, including high blood pressure and problems with blood sugar.

"I was just walking by a very broad and rather crowded street with a friend in the evening. There was a car parked on the side of the road, and we crossed it. Someone from that car called me for help. I turned back and went there. The guy in the driver's seat asked me for directions, so I just helped him without looking. But as soon as I looked down, I saw him masturbating on the seat and staring at me. I froze, and he zoomed off. I couldn't take the car's number or anything. I could not believe what I saw. My friend took me back home, but I honestly couldn't go to college for like a week after that," says 26-year-old Shweta (the name was changed for privacy purposes).

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How can a victim heal from this experience?

Being harassed is never the victim's fault. According to Amanda Spray, PhD, a clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health and Assistant Director of the Cohen Military Family Clinic, two things can help. First is prolonged exposure therapy; this helps the victim gradually confront trauma-related memories and feelings. The second is cognitive processing therapy, which helps victims learn how to challenge and modify what they believe about the trauma.

More than that, the support of peers and family is the most important thing that could help a person heal. Victims should find the courage to speak out and never blame themselves for the abuser's actions.