Sexual violence is a serious public health problem that affects millions of women and men, with an estimated lifetime cost of $1.2 trillion in medical care and $1.6 trillion in lost work productivity. 1 in 5 women and 1 in 13 men will be sexually assaulted at some point during their college career in the United States. Less than 10% will ever report the assault to their school or to the police, and those who do wait an average of 11 months to make the report. The health care costs associated with sexual assault are also alarming–a recent study found that the cost associated with each sexual assault incident averages $6,737.
For years, sexual assault and harassment on college campuses were issues that were kept tightly under wraps and rarely dealt with in public. But no more. The impact of the “Weinstein effect,” which sparked the #MeToo and #TimesUp campaigns, has sent shockwaves throughout society. From Hollywood to Congress to Silicon Valley to Corporate America, powerful perpetrators of sexual harassment and assault are starting to be held accountable.
On April 24, 2018, NYHealth hosted a conversation with Jess Ladd, Founder and CEO of Callisto, a nonprofit organization that created a web-based, survivor-centered sexual assault reporting system for college campuses. Ms. Ladd discussed how Callisto helps colleges, universities, and other institutions prevent and address sexual assault. She also demonstrated Callisto’s reporting system and how it protects victims of assault.
With 90% of campus assaults committed by repeat assailants, Callisto’s approach increases the likelihood a survivor will report an assault. Designed in partnership with sexual assault survivors, the Callisto reporting system detects repeat perpetrators and empowers victims by making the reporting process safe and secure.