Effects on mental health

Effects on mental health

There is a lack of detailed information concerning the mental state of the survivors, mostly because interviews conducted for this report were too brief to explore fully the depth of emotions experienced by the women involved. 

It is apparent that some of the physical symptoms suffered by survivors following the incidents, were closely linked to their mental state. For example, several women spoke of insomnia, loss of appetite, loss of weight, and lack of energy. 

Some women mentioned feeling "depressed," "sad" and "afraid." One woman stated: "When my mind wandered to what had happened, my heart would beat so hard. I was afraid of all men." (case 1). Another woman "kept to herself after the incident. She didn't want to see or communicate with anyone." (case 119)

Several of the survivors stated a strong desire to bring their rapists to justice. One mentioned feeling "angry" when justice was not done. 

At the same time, several of the survivors mentioned feeling "shame" at what had happened, undoubtedly a result of prevailing gender attitudes and censure within the community (see later section "Double punishment"). 

In none of the incidents mentioned were any counselling services available for the survivors. From the little evidence available, it is clear that the survivors were in urgent need of such services, particularly those facing censure from their communities. 

The fact that one of the women repeatedly raped during a period of almost two months (case 51) became insane is an indication of the level of trauma experienced by women subjected to rape. Another woman became an opium addict following the rape (case 76), and abandoned her young child as a result.