Actress Christina Ricci spoke with us today on ABCNews.com’s “Top Line” about her work as national spokesman for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network.

She’s urging members of Congress to support increased funding for the national sexual assault hotline, which provides counseling to victims of rape and sexual abuse through a network of local affiliates. Many of those state and local partners have seen their funding cut in recent months.

Such services are particularly important to those who don’t have health insurance, Ricci said.

“That’s the thing: This has a lot to do with health care because, you know, people without health care can go to . . . these publicly funded services, these social services, and get the help that they need, the medical help that they need,” she said.

“And if you cut all the funding to them you’re adding just even more stress to the whole health care [system]. I mean, this is really a health care issue. . . . People who are raped tend to are twice as likely to suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, suicide.”

Ricci said she got more involved in the cause as an offshoot of her work on the 2006 film “Black Snake Moan,” where she plays the victim of severe sexual and physical abuse.

“I actually did know quite a bit about it, so when I read that screen play I recognized what the character was suffering from,” she said. “And rape trauma syndrome to so many people is so confusing because they don’t really understand the psychology that goes behind what happens to somebody once they’ve been raped and left to deal with this violent crime the rest of their life, without treatment.”

Click HERE to see the video interview with Christina Ricci.

From ABC News

Actress Christina Ricci met with lawmakers today on behalf of RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) to stress the importance of such sexual assault services as the National Sexual Assault Hotline.

We had a chance to sit down with Ricci during her visit and talked about not only her work with RAINN (she’s a spokeswoman for them), but also her favorite politician and what it’s like to sit down and talk shop with lawmakers.

From Politico

With the health care debate raging in Washington, I wanted to ensure that one top health-related issue is not lost. I will be in Washington, D.C. today to meet with members of Congress and discuss the importance of dedicating funds and attention to victims of sexual violence.

Through my involvement with RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), I have had the opportunity to work with many survivors of sexual violence. They tell me of the struggles they face every day dealing with feelings, fear and shame, being alone, and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome in healing from the physical, emotional and psychological injuries.

Odds are, one of your family members, friends, or colleagues has endured the physical and psychological scars of this crime. The statistics are alarming: one in six women and one in 33 men will become a victim of sexual assault in their lifetime. According to the Justice Department, there are over 20 million survivors of sexual violence in the U.S today.

While the actual attack may only last moments, the effects of this life-shattering crime can last a lifetime, making the need for sexual assault services, like the National Sexual Assault Hotline, all the more important.

Victims of sexual violence are more likely to suffer from grave mental health issues than non-victims; in fact they are:

- 3 times more likely to suffer from depression.

- 4 times more likely to contemplate suicide.

- 6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

- 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol.

- 26 times more likely to abuse drugs.

These serious effects have the potential to rob survivors of their ability to live a full life in the aftermath of the attack or sexual abuse. Fortunately, there is good news — recovery is possible. With proper access to care, treatment, and counseling, a survivor of this crime can go on to lead a happy, healthy and productive life.

In my work with RAINN, we strive to get the word out to survivors that they don’t need to go it alone, that help is available, both moments after an assault and years later. RAINN, through the National Sexual Assault Hotlines and the 1,100 local rape crisis centers across the country that we partner with, works around the clock to provide free, confidential, support services, so that there is always someone available to guide a survivor toward recovery.

While significant progress has been made in the past decade, we must do more to improve access to sexual assault support services. RAINN and rape crisis centers nationwide are financially struggling to meet the growing number of people who need support. In the past year alone, demand for the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline has more than doubled.
We need your help, here’s how:

Volunteer:

Consider volunteering at your local rape crisis center. Your local center has opportunities available to directly assist survivors through the telephone hotline, or even accompanying victims to the hospital. To find volunteer opportunities in your community, visit here.

Donate:

Small donations of as little as $20 can make a huge difference in the lives of victims. By donating to RAINN, you can ensure that the National Sexual Assault Hotline can continue to provide free, support, 24/7 to those who need it most. You can go here to donate.

Advocate:

Call your member of Congress today and let them know that sexual assault program services such as the National Sexual Assault Hotline are important to you. Urge your member to support full funding for ending the backlog of untested DNA evidence from rapes that have already occurred.

For more information about how you can help raise awareness about sexual assault, or to volunteer and provide support to someone who really needs your help, please visit rainn.org. Together, we can ensure that no survivor of this crime has to go it alone.

From the Huffington Post

Confessions of Christina Ricci has been named the site of the month for September at Fiction to Film! Thanks so much to the wonderful folks at the site.

A while ago, I posted some information about Christina hosting a benefit for RAINN… You can now view more information about the event from RAINN.org, the event is being held on September 9th in Washington D.C.

RAINN’s national spokesperson, actress Christina Ricci, is headed to D.C. on September 9th to headline a special benefit for RAINN and help us launch a new public awareness campaign. Several leading members of Congress will also be in attendance.

Tracy Sefl, co-chair of the event alongside Katherine Miller, says, “I’m proud to be a longtime supporter of RAINN in their work to combat violence and offer critical help to its victims. Our event in the nation’s capital will bring together supporters from across the political spectrum, as sexual violence knows no borders. We all share a commitment to help RAINN continue and to honor the champions who do its critical work.”

While in D.C., Ricci will join Scott Berkowitz, RAINN’s president, and Evelyn Fortier, RAINN’s vice president for public policy, for a day of meetings with members of Congress. They will be lobbying Congress to fully fund the Debbie Smith Act, which expands the use of DNA in rape investigations, and for measures to improve services for victims of sexual violence.

September 9th Event Information:
6:00 to 7:00 Host Committee/VIP Reception
6:30 to 8:30 Cocktail and Light Hors D’oeurves Reception

I have added over 1,300 photos into our gallery tonight. Some photos are brand new to the site, some you may have seen, some you may not have seen in this quality, there is just SO much that you need to check it out! You can do so by clicking on the thumbnails below…

Please do not redistribute these photos or place your site tag on them and claim them as your own… I try to make this the best place for Christina fans, so you can simply link back to christinaricci.ws to redirect people here! Thank you.

I have added 5 HD captures from the trailer of “New York, I Love You” into our gallery. Christina is only in one part of the trailer, but let’s hope she gets a larger part in the actual film!

Click Here to view the Captures