image_pdfimage_print
The West Palm Beach VA Medical Center will honor survivors of sexual assault through its annual Clothesline Project Display on Monday, April 8th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Rooms 4B-292 and 4B-116/117. This year’s theme is “Creating Pathways to Healing: VA’s Services for Military Sexual Trauma Survivors" and a powerful display of artwork by survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) will be showcase during the event.  Attendees are asked to wear teal in solidarity with sexual assault survivors. A group photo opportunity will take place at 3:40 p.m.  This event is open to the public.
 
Nearly one in four women and one in 100 men have told their VA Healthcare provider that they experienced MST.  Military Sexual Trauma is the term the Department of Veteran’s Affairs uses to refer to sexual assault or sexual harassment that occurred while a person was serving in the military. It includes any sexual experience that someone is involved in against their will.  MST can affect a person’s physical and mental health even years later.  For the last six years West Palm Beach VAMC has held a “Clothesline Project T-Shirt/Art Making Project” to reflect survivors’ experiences of sexual trauma and recovery.  Shirts made by male and female survivors are hung side by side.  
 
The Clothesline Project grew out of a grass roots effort beginning in 1990 to educate, break the silence, and bear witness to violence against women and has now grown to include the growing number of men.  This project has been held by VA’s across the Nation for many years to continue this work.  Our project here at the West Palm Beach VA has grown cumulatively from 13 shirts in 2012 to 184 in 2017.   
 
During the display, Mental Health Providers are present to provide brochures and information on the many services offered by the VA. Survivors are educated on the common reactions to trauma which can happen even many years later.  The VA provides free and confidential counselling and treatment to male and female Veterans for any mental or physical health conditions related to experiences of MST.  Various teams from VA and community organizations will be availbale during the Clothesline Project Display to address how they may assist survivors. The entities include but are not limited to – the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center’s PTSD Clinic, Substance Abuse Clinic, Mental Health, Women’s Clinic, and benefits office; Jupiter and Palm Beach Vet Centers; and Palm Beach County’s Sexual Response Team.