My background is in psychology, so I felt I was equipped to try to find my way through the waters to get her help. I was so wrong. There are many silos, and they don't talk to each other. Not only did Rehtaeh have to tell her story constantly everywhere we went but we didn't get support. Instead of someone coming forward and saying, “this family has suffered a trauma. We need to support her” and saying “here are the police, the counsellors, victim services, and everyone we need to place around this family”, none of that happened. I was left calling and saying, “I don't understand. Why is the photo still being shared? Why aren't you questioning the boys?” There were so many questions.
When your child is traumatized, the whole family is traumatized. I was thinking, “We can get through this. I know how to navigate these systems”, but I had no clue. I think of myself and think that I have the wherewithal to do that, and then I think of all the other families who don't even come up to the state where they think they know what they can do. As soon as they hit the first door, what do they do? It was horrible.
They did an investigation and then, one year later, they told her they were doing nothing and that the photo was still being shared. To me, the first step when you report is to have a team surround you. That is necessary, regardless of whether charges are laid. You need to have that support system come around you and say, “We are going to help you. This is what happens next. This is what you are going to do” instead of you coming up against police officers who dismiss you and tell you, “I have other cases. You are not my only case. This was just teenagers, and there was alcohol.” That is what I see as a huge hurdle, and that is the first step.