The National Sexual Assault Hotline got a 201% increase in calls during the Kavanaugh hearing

WEBVTT -- SOME OF THOSE WATCHING ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED SEXUAL ASSAULT. AND MANY OF THEM ARE SEEKING HELP. >> WE HAVE HAD A HUGE UPTICK IN PHONE CALLS. LISA: SAMANTHA BLACK IS WI TURNAROUND INC. IT PROVIDES WRAP-AROUND AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. SHE SAYS ITS 24 HOUR HOTLINE HAS BEEN RINGING OFF THE HOO >> WE’VE SEEN JUST TODAY ITS -- IT HAS BEEN RINGING OFF THE HOOK. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE REACHING OUT ESPECIALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOW COMING FORWARD BEING TRIGGERED BY THE TESTIMONY. >> SO YOU ARE TELLING ME THIS IS NOT A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY. DR. FORD: ABSOLUTELY NOT. LISA: BLACK SAYS DR. FORD’S TESTIMONY HAS PEOPLE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES AND HELP >> FOR SOME, IT IS EMPOWERING. IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO GET SOME HELP. LISA BUT BLACK SAYS FOR SOME : THIS CASE CAN HAVE ALSO HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT. PEOPLE SEE THIS WONDERFUL STRONG >>PEOPLE SEE THIS WONDERFUL STRONG TESTIMONY THEN TO SEE ALL OF THE BACKLASH, SHE MENTIONED THREATS, SHE’S NO LONGER ABLE TO STAY IN HER HOME WITH HER FAMILY. THAT CAN BE SCARY TO PEOPLE. THAT’S WHY PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO RESPOND. WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE CALLING US BECAUSE TH

There are plenty of reasons why sexual assault victims stay silent about their abuse. But there's a catalyst that spurs many to come forward.When one person alleging sex assault faces the glare of the national spotlight, many more speak out in private.That's what staffers keep noticing at RAINN -- the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. The nonprofit runs the National Sexual Assault Hotline, where calls have spiked since professor Christine Blasey Ford publicly accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of assault. Kavanaugh has vehemently denied the claim.On Thursday, the day Ford testified in front of senators and the whole country, the sex assault hotline saw a 201% increase in calls compared with a typical day, RAINN spokeswoman Sara McGovern said.Early estimates by RAINN on Thursday indicated the hotline had experienced a 147% increase in call volume compared with an average day. The organization updated that figure Friday.Since the advent of the #MeToo movement, many victims have had to cope with a near-constant barrage of news reports about abusers and their victims. That can be overwhelming, said Joyce Marter, a licensed psychotherapist with Refresh Mental Health."It's happening everywhere and all the time," she said. "It's kind of depressing."The recent surge in calls started before Ford's public testimony. This past weekend -- the first full weekend after Ford's identity was revealed -- "there was a 57% uptick in calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline from Friday to Sunday compared to an average Friday to Sunday," McGovern said."We often see an increase in calls when sexual assault stories are in the news. For example, following the (Harvey) Weinstein case and the #MeToo movement, the hotline saw a 46% increase," McGovern said.In fact, since the #MeToo movement spread across the country almost a year ago, "the demand for RAINN's services has been off the charts," McGovern said."Our victim service programs went from helping about 15,000 victims per month to helping about 22,000 per month," she said.Because the hotline is confidential and anonymous, McGovern said she can't provide details of the calls.She said abuse victims or anyone struggling with news about sexual violence can find help by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE or visiting online.rainn.org.

There are plenty of reasons why sexual assault victims stay silent about their abuse. But there's a catalyst that spurs many to come forward.

When one person alleging sex assault faces the glare of the national spotlight, many more speak out in private.

That's what staffers keep noticing at RAINN -- the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. The nonprofit runs the National Sexual Assault Hotline, where calls have spiked since professor Christine Blasey Ford publicly accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of assault. Kavanaugh has vehemently denied the claim.

On Thursday, the day Ford testified in front of senators and the whole country, the sex assault hotline saw a 201% increase in calls compared with a typical day, RAINN spokeswoman Sara McGovern said.

Early estimates by RAINN on Thursday indicated the hotline had experienced a 147% increase in call volume compared with an average day. The organization updated that figure Friday.

Since the advent of the #MeToo movement, many victims have had to cope with a near-constant barrage of news reports about abusers and their victims. That can be overwhelming, said Joyce Marter, a licensed psychotherapist with Refresh Mental Health.

"It's happening everywhere and all the time," she said. "It's kind of depressing."

The recent surge in calls started before Ford's public testimony. This past weekend -- the first full weekend after Ford's identity was revealed -- "there was a 57% uptick in calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline from Friday to Sunday compared to an average Friday to Sunday," McGovern said.

"We often see an increase in calls when sexual assault stories are in the news. For example, following the (Harvey) Weinstein case and the #MeToo movement, the hotline saw a 46% increase," McGovern said.

In fact, since the #MeToo movement spread across the country almost a year ago, "the demand for RAINN's services has been off the charts," McGovern said.

"Our victim service programs went from helping about 15,000 victims per month to helping about 22,000 per month," she said.

Because the hotline is confidential and anonymous, McGovern said she can't provide details of the calls.

She said abuse victims or anyone struggling with news about sexual violence can find help by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE or visiting online.rainn.org.

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