Edmonton junior high offers counselling for sexual violence

As the #MeToosocial media movement emboldens more and more people to speak out about sexual violence, an Edmonton junior high school is providing a new avenue of support.

Every Friday, a psychologist offers counselling at John D. BraccoSchool to support students dealing with issues around sexual assault and harassment.

"She is so busy she could be there every day of the week," said Mary Jane James, executive director of the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE), which launched the pilot project with the school in northeast Edmontonin September.

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Since then, a dozen students have sought help from the centre's psychologist Morgan Bissegger, with more requests coming each week.

"With campaigns like the #MeToo campaign and conversations starting to increase within society, kids are probably feeling more comfortable coming forward," said Bissegger.

She said ongoing media coverage and disclosures can be triggering for some, but alsohelpremind kids they're not alone.

"It can help shift it from this humongous thing that just happened to me to this humongous thing that has happened to [many others]," she said.

The students' experiences are wide-ranging, from historical abuse to instances at home or between students, said Bissegger.Any student disclosing an incident is given the option of getting counselling. Consent from parents is also required.

"It can break down a little bit of people's hesitancy to even access services because it's so easy, it's right there," said Bissegger.

Intervention now canbenefit students for a lifetime, said Bissenger, noting it helps them develop healthier relationships, feel comfortable in their bodies, feel safe at school and "be able to go forward to do other great things."

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The roots of the pilot project stretch back to a campaign last year. A video created by John D.Braccostudents to promoteSACEled to a $10,000 donation fromHockey Helps Kids. Students also painted canvasses auctioned off at the agency's annual gala and performed a drumming circle.

As the relationship developed, school principal Jillian Marinoand James discussed the need for specialized services inside theschool.

Marino saidthe need for such supports isn't unique to her students alone. But it was a lack of freeresources in the Clareviewarea, such as those offered by SACE, combined with financial and transportation barriers, that led to the idea of a mobile therapist for the community.

She said whetherstudents see the counsellor or notthey still benefit, making the comparison to student gay-straight alliances.

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"Not all kids join them, not all kids want to join them," said Marino. "But they're there and just having that organization ... in your school creates a sense of school culture that says everything's OK. I'll be OK. Ihave a place to go if I need it."

A dozen other junior highs have expressed interest in introducing counselling services if funding canbe found, she said.

James said with"so many disclosures happening" she expects the mobile services to expand.

andrea.huncar@cbc.ca
@andreahuncar