12/17/2025
As a psychiatrist, I’ve seen a heartbreaking rise in sexual assaults among first-year college women during this vulnerable “red zone” time.
With a warm heart, I gently urge parents: Keep communication open and loving with your daughters, so they always feel safe coming to you.
Create a simple safety plan together—talk about steps if they feel uneasy, like reaching trusted friends or resources. Online risks are real, so educate with kindness.
This semester, I’ve walked alongside several young women healing from this pain. Let’s protect them through connection: Talk often with care, suggest a self-defense class for confidence, and practice scenarios gently to honor their intuition.
Above all, promise you’ll believe and support them without judgment—it’s never their fault.
Encourage prompt medical care (including a forensic exam if they choose) and early therapy, which can truly help healing. Silence isn’t the only way; speaking up, when ready, restores their health.
With love and presence, we can help them heal.
