Utah
Utah survivor shares her story escaping sex trafficking
Regardless of what number of instances she modified her script simply earlier than her speech, Stacy Symons was nonetheless a bit of nervous.
Though it was her life story, it’s nonetheless powerful to inform it in entrance of so many individuals.
“I wished to do that as a result of it’s been a very long time and I wish to let others know what occurred to me,” stated Symons. “I wasn’t in a position to determine myself as a intercourse trafficking sufferer till I had gotten clear from meth, which was six years after I used to be trafficked.”
It’s the sort of story that makes folks cease no matter they’re doing.
Throughout the luncheon in Salt Lake Metropolis the place she spoke Thursday afternoon, nobody was consuming whereas she spoke.
“As a teen, earlier than even being trafficked after I was raped at 16. I didn’t even know what rape was,” she stated.
Symons, who grew up in South Jordan, is aware of her story is a troublesome one to listen to.
Nonetheless, it’s additionally a strong and hopeful story as a result of Symons escaped trafficking and has been drug free for six years.
She says it’s all as a result of she received assist.
“I really feel probably the most empowered and the strongest and probably the most safe that I’ve ever felt in my life,” stated Symons.
That empowerment is precisely what the luncheon was about.
Board members of the Aspen Magdalene Home in Salt Lake Metropolis organized this occasion and referred to as it a “lunch and study” with the purpose of giving an summary of intercourse trafficking in Utah.
They are saying Utah is among the prime ten states within the U.S. for intercourse trafficking.
Sergeant Jodie Sampson, who works with the Unified Police Division’s Metro Psychological Well being Unit, says it’s a rising concern in Utah because the state’s inhabitants continues to extend.
“It has no boundaries. Everybody at all times thinks it occurs on the opposite facet of the tracks and actually it doesn’t occur on the opposite facet of the tracks. It will possibly occur subsequent door,” stated Sgt. Sampson.
Sampson is keen about getting the correct psychological well being help to trafficking victims.
She says it makes a distinction and has seen the advance in folks she has helped.
“It’s all about resilience and with the ability to get the assistance that you simply want as a result of there may be assist on the market, but it surely takes that first step to have the ability to ask for it, after which to truly obtain it,” stated Sgt. Sampson.
That was the opposite a part of this luncheon.
Aspen Home is planning on creating a house for intercourse trafficking victims and is elevating cash to make {that a} actuality.
Board members don’t have a precise location picked out but, however they really feel the assistance is required greater than ever.
Particularly in relation to psychological well being and offering girls, and males, a secure surroundings to empower them.
“They want a spot the place victims as an entire can get better,” stated Sgt. Sampson.
That’s why Symons felt it was essential for her to talk throughout the luncheon.
She feels her restoration and therapeutic, and realization of what occurred to her, wouldn’t have been doable with out getting assist.
“It’s price it as a result of if it will possibly assist even one particular person from experiencing the sort of ache that I went by way of, then I’ll do it,” she stated.