Edmonton Junior High offers counseling on sexual violence

As the #MeToo social media movement encourages more people to speak out against sexual violence, an Edmonton junior high school is offering a new avenue of support.

Every Friday, a psychologist at the John D. Bracco School offers counseling to support students struggling with issues related to sexual assault and harassment.

“She’s so busy she could be there every day of the week,” said Mary Jane James, executive director of the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE), which launched the pilot project with the northeast Edmonton school in September.

Since then, a dozen students have sought help from the center’s psychologist, Morgan Bissegger, and more requests come in each week.

“Campaigns like #MeToo and the increasing conversations in society are probably giving children more reason to come forward,” Bissegger said.

She said the ongoing media coverage and revelations could be triggering for some people, but could also help children remember they are not alone.

“It can help take it from this huge thing that just happened to me to this huge thing that has happened (to many others),” she said.

The students’ experiences are varied and range from abuse in the past to incidents at home or between students, said Bissegger. Every student who describes an incident has the opportunity to receive counseling. Parental consent is also required.

“It can reduce people’s reluctance to access services at all because it is so easy and readily available,” Bissegger said.

An intervention now can benefit students for life, Bissenger says, helping them build healthier relationships, feel comfortable in their bodies, feel safe at school and “be able to do other great things in the future.”

The pilot project’s roots go back to a campaign last year. A video created by students at John D. Bracco University to promote SACE resulted in a $10,000 donation from Hockey Helps Kids. Students also painted canvases that were auctioned off at the agency’s annual gala and performed a drum circle.

As this relationship developed, principals Jillian Marino and James discussed the need for specialized services within the school.

Marino said the need for such support isn’t unique to her students. But it was the lack of free resources in the Clareview area like those offered by SACE, coupled with financial and transportation barriers, that led to the idea of ​​a mobile therapist for the community.

She said that whether or not students see the counselor, they always benefit, and drew a comparison to gay-straight student alliances.

“Not all kids join them, not all kids want to join them,” Marino said. “But they’re there and just the fact that there’s this organization … in the school creates a school culture that says everything’s OK. I’m OK. I have a place to go when I need it.”

A dozen other middle schools have expressed interest in introducing counseling services if the necessary funding is made available, she said.

James said she expects an expansion of mobile services in light of the “many revelations.”

[email protected]
@andreahuncar