April is sexual assault awareness month, and with focus being turned to the subject, Colorado State University’s Women and Gender Advocacy Center is hosting a workshop for secondary survivors.

The website asoneproject.org defines a secondary survivor as “someone who is close to the survivor and may experience some of the same side effects such as personality changes, depression and emotions related to the trauma.”

The workshop will cover topics like supporting loved ones and understanding trauma’s effect on the brain, according to Casey Malsam, the assistant Director of Victim Services with the WGAC.

The workshop will take place on April 5, from 5-8 p.m. and is open to the entire CSU community. Space is limited for the event. Those interested in attending can register by emailing wgac@colostate.edu.

Malsam also notes the three goals of the workshop: participants leaving with an understanding of rape-supportive culture, gaining knowledge of how to be a good support person in times of crisis and learning about vicarious trauma and how it can affect people in multiple ways.

The workshop will take place on April 5, from 5-8 p.m. and is open to the entire CSU community. Space is limited for the event. Those interested in attending can register by emailing wgac@colostate.edu.

Collegian reporter Nate Day can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @NateMDay.