Rape 'can never ever be a conversation that we move on from', Florence Pugh said in a new Elle magazine interview. Her message lands against warnings that sexual assault can leave survivors with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and chronic pain.

The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, part of Penn State Health, describes the psychological consequences of sexual assault as far reaching. Survivors can face shock, numbness, fear and anger within hours, and some go on to develop acute stress disorder.

Pugh, 30, said she speaks up because she is 'a woman who cares about women'. Her remarks follow her public condemnation of a civil lawsuit involving seven male students accused of drugging and gang-raping a fellow Cornell University student in October 2024.

Mental Health Toll on Survivors

Intrusive thoughts, nightmares and dissociation can follow an assault. Some survivors recover quickly, while others continue to struggle with their emotional and psychological wellbeing for much longer.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one possible long-term consequence of sexual assault. Flashbacks, persistent fear and avoidance of reminders can impair daily life and relationships.

Depression and anxiety are also common. Survivors may experience persistent sadness, hopelessness, panic attacks or social anxiety, along with changes in sleep and appetite.

Sleep disturbances such as insomnia, nightmares or night sweats are common. They can contribute to fatigue, irritability and difficulty concentrating, and sometimes persist for months or years.

Shame, guilt and self-blame can erode self-worth over time. Survivors may also withdraw from friends, family and partners, and trust issues or fear of intimacy can make close relationships difficult to maintain.

Physical effects can include chronic pain, headaches and gastrointestinal problems, while stress may weaken the immune system. Substance use and eating disorders can also develop, and survivors face a higher risk of being victimised again.

It adds that survivors need acknowledgement and support to heal. Pugh said rape must be faced head-on, with justice and accountability demanded, and warned that treating such stories as normal risks making abuse an accepted norm.

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Women's Voices Dismissed in Medicine

A published analysis of women's healthcare in UK hospitals applies Miranda Fricker's epistemic injustice framework. Its authors reviewed seven reports published from 2019 to 2024 and argue that women's voices are frequently dismissed.

The authors argue that women's accounts are often given less credibility in healthcare settings, contributing to avoidable harm. They call for a broader understanding of how this testimonial injustice occurs and how it can be addressed in healthcare and its regulation.

Elizabeth Comen, a breast oncologist at NYU Langone Health, says medicine still dismisses women's pain. She notes that many women have IUDs placed or endometrial biopsies performed without proper pain management.

Comen also says compassion, empathy and listening are undervalued in the medical system.

She said 80 percent of autoimmune disease cases occur in women, adding that 'we are not small men'. Comen argues that the historic treatment of frozen shoulder, which disproportionately affects women, amounted to benign neglect.

Body Image and Self-Acceptance

Pugh said acting helps her feel 'comfortable in the body that I'm in', free of the typical self-consciousness of being a woman. She said that freedom has always been part of why performing feels so liberating.

She said it is crucial to be at peace with who you are because critics will find fault whatever a person's size or opinions. She added that finding peace with who you want to be matters most.

Pugh said she never wants to live in a world where society moves on from rape easily. Given the mental and physical toll described above, her message is that the conversation must continue.

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