Supporting Students with Experience of Sexual Violence

Lisa Brooks-Lewis, Mental Health Manager at Loughborough University and UMHAN committee member, talks about her experience developing policies and training on the topic of sexual violence. 

Whilst in my role as Mental Health Advisor at Loughborough University, and due to my previous experience at Rape Crisis, I was fortunate to be asked to be involved with the development of the Sexual Violence Policy.

I was tasked with designing appropriate training for a Higher Education setting which I have now delivered to 72 core student services staff.

This work has been extremely positive and so in October 2016, when Universities UK released new Guidance for Higher Education, I felt proud of how much Loughborough University had achieved so far.

So, when approached in February 2017, I was happy to contribute to Epigeum’s online ‘Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence: Guidance for Staff’. Developed by experienced practitioners, this is an excellent online module based course aimed specifically for a Higher Education setting.

In March this year I was videoed for this online resource, highlighting the key issues relating to sexual violence. These include: the culture relating to sexual violence, consent, how to respond to a disclosure in a professional, supportive and boundaried manner as well as safeguarding and reporting.
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Now, as a Mental Health Manager at Loughborough University and UMHAN regional coordinator, I would highly recommend this training alongside appropriate policy and face to face training, as a way to start the conversation to support and empower survivors of sexual violence. 

For further information about RDSV; see here.  
Contact Lisa about training opportunities here.