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. 2024 Dec 18:12:1458510.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1458510. eCollection 2024.

Community case study: Our Wave, an online platform to facilitate survivor disclosure of sexual assault and trauma recovery

Laura Sinko  1   2 , Olga V Naidenko  1 , Brendan Michaelsen  1 , Cassandra Marzke  1 , Madeline Hart  1 , Brooke Tweedie  1   2 , Kyle Linton  1
Affiliations

Community case study: Our Wave, an online platform to facilitate survivor disclosure of sexual assault and trauma recovery

Laura Sinko et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

This community case study introduces Our Wave, an online platform that provides a safe, anonymous space for survivors of sexual harm to share their stories, reflect on their healing journeys, and connect with others. Designed to empower survivors, the platform allows users to post anonymous stories or visual media, ask questions, and send messages of hope, all while prioritizing privacy and security. It also aims to create a broader impact by analyzing shared narratives to detect patterns, identify best practices for healing, and inform global approaches to SV recovery. With over 100,000 members and over 1,200 stories and forms of media shared, the platform has become a valuable resource for survivors. Using mixed-methods analysis of platform usage data and anonymous user feedback surveys (n = 288), we examined patterns of engagement and impact. Analysis revealed that 57% of story submissions included "Messages of Healing" and 52% included "Messages of Hope," with survey responses indicating that anonymity and peer support were crucial factors in facilitating disclosure. Research shows that the social and emotional dynamics of SV disclosure, as well as the responses from others, play a crucial role in a survivor's healing. By focusing on confidentiality, trauma-informed support, and community-building, Our Wave offers a safe space for survivors to heal, connect, and access resources to support their journey toward recovery.

Keywords: SV; healing; online community; sexual assault disclosure; sexual harm; trauma recovery.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Themes across submitted questions.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Website visitor “journey map”.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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