Reasons (types of SVSH harm) for Social Services support, 2021-2022

In the 2021-22 academic year, the majority of clients seen by Social Services for reasons related to SVSH came due to experiences of sexual assault (51%). Interpersonal violence (dating or domestic violence) was the second most common reason, making up 24.6% of unique clients who were seen by Social Services for SVSH. At Social Services, stalking and sexual harassment are categorized together and made up 11% of clients. A fourth category, "sexual violence" made up almost 14%. 

Note: Clients may seek support from Social Services for multiple reasons. For that reason, the number of reasons or types of harm for which clients sought care from Social Services is more than the overall total number of clients Social Services saw for SVSH. 

This composition of reasons for seeking Social Services support is consistent with previous years:

  • In the 2018-19 academic year, 75% of all SVSH-related appointments (including appointments with survivors and respondents) were for survivors who had experienced sexual assault. Interpersonal violence (harm related to intimate partner or domestic violence) was the second most common reason for Social Services appointments, followed by sexual harassment and stalking. 
  • In 2019-2020, 55% of all SVSH-related appointments (including appointments with survivors and respondents) were for sexual assault. Interpersonal violence (harm related to intimate partner or domestic violence) was the second most common reason for Social Services appointments (21%), followed by sexual harassment and stalking.
  • In 2020-2021, 28% of all SVSH-related appointments at Social Services (including appointments with survivors and respondents) were for sexual assault. Intimate partner/ domestic/dating violence was the second most common reason for Social Services appointments (14%), followed by sexual harassment and stalking (2.5%). The rest were coded by Social Services as “Trauma.”