Table of ContentsIntroductionConsentImpact on Mental HealthHow to HelpConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionSexual assault is a sensitive topic in society. Although sexual assault is common, it can be difficult for individuals to talk about their trauma with others. This leads many victims to remain silent because they are afraid or ashamed of their sexual assaults. The question being assessed is whether sexual assault has a long-term negative impact on individuals within society. Many think that sexual assaults only happen on nighttime walks or in dark alleys, but in reality, assaults can happen in broad daylight; anytime and anywhere. Sexual assault refers to sexual acts or attempts to commit a sexual act through the use of force. This can often include unwanted sexual comments, unauthorized touching, sexual threats, etc. Both men and women can be victims of sexual assault. According to the Ontario government, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men are affected by sexual assault (Government of Ontario, 2016). When someone is a victim of sexual assault, they often face negative consequences and mental health issues. However, there are multiple helplines and resources to provide assistance to victims. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayConsentConsent is an essential factor that one must consider before getting involved in any sexual activity. If consent is not given, it is considered sexual assault. To ensure that consent is given by another person, rather than assuming or implying that someone has given it, it is important to ensure that consent is given in a verbal context. According to the Ontario government, even if not categorically refused, the absence of communication cannot be considered consent. Consent cannot be given when a person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as this influence may cause the person to make irrational decisions. Consent given once does not mean it is never required again, as consent must be given each time before any form of sexual activity (Government of Ontario, 2016). The type of clothes one wears cannot be an indicator of anything, because a person's clothing preferences have no correlation to consent. According to Bryana H. French and Helen A. Neville, young women are constantly the targets of sexual coercion and sometimes exploitation. For this reason, these young women in society are pressured, threatened and forced into unwanted sexual activities without their consent (French, Neville, 2017). This shows that women in society are weakened, considered vulnerable and easy to exploit. Women are sexualized in the media, even at a young age. For example, posing women in a sexual manner in advertisements, YouTube videos, magazines, etc. shows the culture of society, in which these women are presented as sexual objects. This shows a connection between the sexualization of women in society and the unwanted sexual activities that occur. Treating women like objects gives society the message that it is okay for women to treat them badly. It is important to be aware of what the media is trying to present to society and not confuse this information intoabusing women like objects or harassing them in any form. Impact on Mental Health Mental health plays an important role in an individual's daily life. However, a person's mental health can be affected, which can affect their functioning. Incidents of sexual assault can be very traumatic and lead to many mental health problems. Although sexual assault can affect men and women differently, most of the time it causes severe anxiety and depression. According to Lisa M. Dario, sexual assault is one of the most traumatic events that can happen. This leaves an individual with negative outcomes such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, severe anxiety, constant fear, alcohol or drug abuse, and possible attempts or thoughts suicidal (Dario, 2018). Living with the constant fear of being attacked again can be very devastating. Some victims cannot share their traumatic experience because they fear being looked down upon by society. These consequences of depression, anxiety, and PTSD can begin to show up in a person's life. These mental health issues can cause a person to stop showing up to work, affecting their well-being and society as a whole. According to Peter Hagene, PTSD is the most common disorder seen in incidents of sexual assault (Hagene, 2015). These victims tend to relive the trauma over and over again, causing nightmares and sudden flashbacks. Chessy Prout is a sexual assault survivor and she also wrote a book called I Have the Right to: A High School Survivor's Story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and Hope. This book is based on her traumas and past experiences, which she decides to open up and share with society. During her interview, she begins to wonder how someone could have disrespected her in this way and how much pain it caused her and her family. Disregarding her humanity and the things he had taken away from her, like her dignity (Entertainment Weekly, 2018). A group of guys on their campus were competing on how many girls one could have, creating a list of names with multiple girls on it, which is considered very disrespectful to these girls because they treat them like sex objects (Hauser, 2016). Many people in society tend to blame survivors for not speaking out when they are attacked. However, this shows the lack of support that society gives to these victims. A survivor is allowed to freeze in a traumatic situation and it is not their fault that they find themselves in that situation, it is the person committing the assault who is responsible. This shows the link between a lack of support from society and mental health issues, as the constant fear of being embarrassed and not being able to express yourself because of what society has to say can take its toll. harmful to mental health (Entertainment Weekly, 2018). .How to helpSociety can sometimes be influenced by misconceptions, commonly known as rape myths. In order to prevent sexual assault, we must recognize the facts rather than the myths. According to the Ontario government, a common myth is that sexual assaults are committed by strangers. However, the truth is that sexual assault is often committed by someone the victim knows, usually a family member, partner, or casual friend (Government of Ontario, 2016). Another myth is that if a woman does not fight back, it is not considered sexual assault. However,,/