Brave Meath woman, among the voices featured in the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s ‘Signs of Hope’ 2025 campaign

A BRAVE Meath woman, Karen Stanley is among the voice featured in the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s ‘Signs of Hope’ 2025 campaign which sees survivors of sexual violence write messages to the silent majority who haven’t ever sought support.

From Monday, handwritten messages from six survivors of sexual violence are being displayed on billboards around the country, as part of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s ‘Signs of Hope’ campaign. Among those featured in the campaign is Meath native, Karen Stanley, who endured a six year wait before her rapist was brought to trial.

In her message to survivors, Karen encourages those who have experienced sexual violence to come forward and seek support: “Together we can do this, when together we are all striving towards the same thing – Justice, peace, solidarity, and our voices to be heard.”

The nationwide campaign is amplifying the voices of survivors who have benefitted from support services themselves to encourage those who have never connected with a support service to reach out. The CSO has found that 1 in 2 survivors will never tell another person about what happened to them and 8 in 10 have never used a support service.

Against this backdrop, survivors are using their voices to urge others to make contact with the National Rape Crisis Helpline. Their emotional and heartfelt messages convey immense solidarity with the community of survivors in Ireland, letting them know that they are not alone and help is always available.

One of the messages is from Nikita Hand, whose story has inspired so many people to seek support and speak out. Nikita’s message to other survivors is: “Our voice is the most powerful thing we have, don’t be afraid to use it”.

The initiative, which launched today (10th November) builds on last year’s award-winning campaign, which sparked an increase in demand from survivors for support. Calls to DRCC’s 24-hour National Helpline surged by 33%, with first-time callers up 78% in the first week. Over the full campaign, helpline calls rose by 20%. There was an almost 50% rise in male contacts following a radio ad burst and a 7% increase in male contacts overall.

The campaign also coincides with the anniversaries of the court dates of some of the participating survivors and is a timely reminder of how difficult the legal process is, but that support is also available for those who choose to seek justice.

“My hope is that anyone who is going through this will find the right support and know help is available. Nobody deserves to go through this alone,” says Kathleen Correia, who broke her silence after years of abuse and coercive control within her marriage.

Catherine Wrightstone and her sisters were sexually assaulted and raped at a young age by their brothers: “Maybe no one ever taught you how to ask for help. Or maybe you’ve tried, and people let you down. But I promise you: there are safe people. There are gentle hands and open hearts that can help hold the weight you've carried for too long.”

Dylan Gallagher was abused by his older cousin and shared his story publicly at age 27. “For 13 years, I carried that secret, believing I was alone. Speaking out was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the best. I know how terrifying it is to speak out—especially as a male survivor, and especially when family is involved. But I promise you, there is light beyond the darkness. There is healing. There is justice. And there are people who will stand beside you every step of the way.”

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s CEO Rachel Morrogh says “Every person who speaks out shines a light on the epidemic of sexual violence, but just because you haven’t spoken out doesn’t mean you have to suffer alone. Sexual violence is still surrounded by stigma in this country and this stigma is one of the reasons people feel discouraged from seeking the support they deserve. Our enduring message to survivors is that they deserve to heal, that they are believed, that they matter and that even if they haven’t reached out for support yet, when they’re ready to talk, we’re here to listen.

“Last year’s Signs of Hope campaign showed just how powerful that message can be, with a significant surge in calls from people who finally felt ready to reach out for support. This year, we hope to build on that impact and reach even more people across the country with messages that inspire connection, courage, and healing.”

The campaign reinforces DRCC’s mission to make support accessible to all survivors of sexual violence and to encourage those still living in silence to take that same step toward healing.

If you have been affected by sexual violence, contact the National Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800 77 8888. Free. Confidential. 24 hours