Christina Johnson, executive director of Sanare Centre (PHOTO CHAT NEWS TV)

By Brendan Miller

Sexual violence survivors in Medicine Hat wait up to six months for support, says Sanare Centre

Jan 30, 2023 | 3:54 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Wait times for sexual violence survivors seeking treatment are on the rise in southern Alberta.

In Medicine Hat people can wait up to six months to receive counseling as the demand for support continues to climb.

Social media movements such as #MeToo and the #IBelieveYou campaign have shed light on sexual violence and encouraged more victims to seek counseling.

“Right now, currently here in Medicine Hat and the surrounding area, our centre is serving 50 per cent more people than they were last year,” said Christina Johnson, executive director of the Sanare Centre. “We are seeing a remarkable increase, this of course is coupled by those movements but also due to COVID.”

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As a consequence, strain on centres and organizations providing treatment are finding themselves struggling to keep up with the increased demand.

“Which is devastating for those on the list; it increases their trauma symptomatology. They feel alone and they feel absolutely unsupported,” said Johnson.

Sanare Centre has been working with the Alberta government since last May to increase provincial funding that would alleviate wait times.

“We are continuing to work with the Alberta government however the clock is ticking. We know there is about one month left until the budget is presented. We have six months worth of survivors waiting on our waitlist. We are looking for an answer and they are looking for an answer too,” said Johnson.

More information about programs and services offered can be found on the Sanare Centre website.

Those waiting for treatment are referred to Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence that offers talk, text and crisis support for sexual abuse survivors in Alberta at 1-866-403-8000.