Challenging Harmful Misconceptions with Facts “When we focus on the truth instead of repeating the myths, we create space for people to finally understand what really happened to them,” says Sheilagh Mescal Gunstensen, BScN, MA, Training Specialist at Younity. Sexual violence is surrounded by misinformation. Over time, those misunderstandings can shape how communities respond, how […]
Changing the Conversation About Campus Culture For decades, conversations about safety on college campuses focused largely on policies, enforcement, and response after harm occurred. Blue-light emergency phones, reporting systems, and disciplinary procedures were developed to respond to violence after it happened. Today, many colleges are expanding that conversation. Increasingly, the focus is on prevention. The […]
Rita Lavender’s official last day at Younity was Friday. But when coverage was needed at the Safe House over the weekend, Rita stepped in. Because that’s who she is. After more than four decades of extraordinary dedication, Rita Lavender is retiring from Younity’s Emergency Services team — though her instinct to make sure survivors and […]
How trauma-informed counseling and coordinated support helped one mother rebuild safely When Sage first connected with Younity, she did not describe herself as someone experiencing abuse. She described herself as overwhelmed — frustrated, upset, exhausted. She had been married for nearly two decades. She was raising three children. She was navigating health challenges, financial strain, […]
Teen dating violence rarely begins with a bruise. More often, it starts quietly; a relationship that feels intense, consuming, even romantic at first. A partner who wants constant contact. Who expects passwords “to build trust,” or needs to know where you are at all times through location sharing and social media. Over time, what once […]
Strangulation is increasingly showing up in teen and young adult dating relationships, and the rise is deeply concerning. Often referred to by teens as “choking,” the behavior is frequently framed online and in popular media as normal, consensual, or even desirable. Some teens and young adults believe it creates a feeling of euphoria or heightened […]
