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Health support
If you are a survivor we know it can be very difficult to attend certain types of health appointments. Intimate examinations, sexual health testing and natal care can trigger distressing memories.
Our Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs) can offer emotional support via telephone, before and after certain types of health appointments, which you may find distressing or triggering due to the sexual abuse you were subjected to. We can even chaperone you to Umbrella Sexual Health testing and treatment appointments, to ensure that your needs and wishes are understood and that you don’t feel alone.
If you would like to have this type of support, please call our ISVA team on 0121 643 0301 (option 2) to discuss how we can help.
Listed below are some ways we can support your health:
Sexual Health
- Simple home testing kits for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia can also be obtained from the ISVA team (If you are over 16 years of age). The ISVA’s can also help you order a self-testing kit which can be delivered to your home or a local chemist.
- Along with our partner service, Umbrella Health, our ISVAs provide a dedicated Abuse Survivors Clinic (ASC) offering specialised services (including contraception advice) to support anyone aged 13 or over who has been subjected to sexual violence, abuse or exploitation at any time in their lives.
The ASC takes place at the following locations and days:
Whittal Street Clinic, Birmingham, B4 6DH. The 2nd and last Thursday every month.
You will need to book an appointment in advance, by calling 0121 237 5700 or book online via the umbrella website, www.umbrellahealth.co.uk.
Umbrella Health Survey
We invite you to complete this survey by our partner, Umbrella Health. This is open for anyone living with HIV, regardless of how recently they accessed care.
Other Health
If the abuse you have been subjected to impacts your ability to access other intimate healthcare appointments, an ISVA can still offer you emotional support by telephone, both before and/or after your appointment. These types of health appointments may include the following:
- Opticians
- Gynaecology including smear tests
- Breast screening
- Dentist
- Anal or Prostate checks
If any other intimate health appointment is causing you distress because of the trauma you have been through, please contact an ISVA who can arrange an emotional support call.
Having emotional support can help ease your anxiety, reduce triggers and fears, and ensure that you don’t feel alone. RSVP is always there for your needs 💜