Clients of the support charity found the change in lifestyle due to coronavirus restrictions difficult to endure.
Some younger clients have found themselves back living in the homes where they were abused
Chief executive Maeve Lewis said: “Many of our clients are completely overwhelmed by the distress this evokes.
“Some tell us of thoughts of suicide.
“Some younger clients have found themselves back living in the homes where they were abused.
“Others tell us of an escalation in violence by their intimate partners.”
— One in Four (@oneinfourirish) September 30, 2020
She said the Covid-19 limitations had produced a devastating impact.
“We have continued to deliver our services mainly online and while this has been a crucial support to clients, it is just not as effective as face-to-face meetings.”
She added the normal daily routines of work, school, socialising and family events have always been an important “scaffolding” to help survivors contain trauma symptoms and this has now been removed.
The demand for psychotherapy has continued to grow and today the charity had more than 50 people on a waiting list, many queuing more than five months to be allocated a therapist.
The charity chief added: “We are even more concerned now because of Covid-19 and the restricted lives many survivors are forced to live.
“This is echoed across all the services working with sexual violence.”
She urged a major review of funding for sexual violence services to address “serious gaps”.
