Suffering in Silence

Rethink and YWCA’s across western Canada have launched a video campaign that urges viewers to stop and listen to survivors, as part of Victims and Survivors of Crime Week. The week, which runs from May 27 to June 2, is a national event bringing together victims and survivors of crime, survivors advocates and survivor-serving agencies to help raise awareness about survivors’ issues.

The emotional Facebook videos of survivors silently suffering show the powers of listening . When users finally click to listen, they hear the survivors’ internal monologue, struggling to come to terms with what’s happened to them. Why is it important to listen? According to Statistics Canada, half of women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16. 

“The unfortunate reality is that the inner monologues in our campaign ads reflect thoughts that might run through a survivor’s mind. In our current society, women still wonder whether they will be listened to and believed,” explains Lisa Rupert, VP of Housing Services and Violence Prevention at YWCA Metro Vancouver. “We hope this campaign raises awareness and helps people understand what survivors go through, and how important it is for us hear and believe survivors, so that no one suffers in silence.”

On Facebook, 85% of people never listen to videos. Unfortunately, it’s a similar story when it comes to listening to survivors. The YWCA hopes these videos will show that when you take the time to listen, you can stop someone from needlessly suffering in silence.

The videos are part of a broader collaborative campaign initiated by YW Calgary, YWCA of Metro Vancouver, YWCA Banff, YWCA Edmonton and YWCA Lethbridge. This campaign includes broadcast throughout Alberta and southern British Columbia as well as online channels utilized by the above YWCAs.