During adolescent years, teenagers may suffer various types of social and emotional hardships. These difficulties have a serious effect on teenagers, mostly because of the transitional period in their life that they are going through. Adolescence is a time where one finds their inner self and chooses who and what they want to be. When growing up, teenagers are susceptible to various types of change through different experiences. Specifically, rape has an extremely harsh effect on adolescents during this vulnerable stage in their lives. In the fiction novel Speak, Melinda Sordino is permanently scarred by rape at a very young age, negatively affecting her life. The novel Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, and modern sources explore how rape trauma and depression lead to a lack of social support and loneliness. 

A victim of rape trauma is likely to experience effects of damaged social interactions and negative self-image. The article, “Ego-Identity Achievement and Perception of Risk in Intimacy in Survivors of Stranger and Acquaintance Rape,” by Siobhan L. McEwan, Anton de Man F., and Paul Simpson-Housley, discusses the symptoms of a rape victim by stating that they, "Indeed may be more devastating with longer lasting symptomatology in certain areas of psychological functioning, such as self-blame, negative self-image, and impaired  social relations" (McEwan, de Man, Simpso-Hously 282). In relation to Melinda, this article helps support the impact that the rape had on her, including her low self-esteem. Melinda exemplifies this when she takes down the mirror in her room and places it in her closet, facing the wall, revealing the negative image that she has of herself (Anderson 17). This is shown again when Melinda is asked to go to a small get together by one of her classmates. She thinks to herself, "Nope. I don't do parties. No thanks. I trot out excuses: homework, strict parents, tuba practice, late-night dentist appointment, have to feed the warthogs. I don't have a good track record with parties" (Anderson 131). Melinda’s clear lack of confidence in this situation potrays the impact that the rape had on her by showing the damage done to her social interaction skills. Melinda’s symptomatology demonstrates a lower self-image and debilitated social relationships that proceeded her rape trauma.

As a result of rape, depression serves as a main symptom of the traumatic experience. Depression can lead into more serious outcomes, including suicidal thoughts and actions. Evidence found through the article, “Mood Instability, Mental Illness and Suicidal Ideas: Results from a Household Survey” by Steven Marwaha, Nick Parsons, and Matthew Broome, states that, “Likelihood ratio tests indicated that mental disorders [depression] and MI [mental instability] were individually more strongly associated with suicidal ideas” (Marwaha, Parsons, Broome 1434). Depression alone can ruin lives, making people consider serious actions, including suicidal behavior. Melinda has a direct connection to these statistics because she has acted upon her suicidal thoughts. At a point where Melinda’s depression envelops her, Melinda narrates, “I open up a paper clip and scratch it across the inside of my left wrist. Pitiful. If a suicide attempt is a cry for help, then what is this? A whimper, a peep? I draw little windowcracks of blood, etching line after line until it stops hurting” (Anderson 87). From this scene in the novel, Melinda’s self-harm proves to derive from her depression and mental instability. Melinda’s rape experience causes her to have severe depression and suicidal thoughts that lead to self-harm.

Due to Melinda’s depression, there is a noticeable decrease of support from her family members and from her close friend, Heather. Family and friends are necessary aspects of someone’s life, espescially when that person is going through such a horrendous situation. According to the article “Social Isolation, Psychological Health, and Protective Factors in Adolescence,” by Jennifer A. Hall-Lande, Marla E. Eisenberg, Sandra L. Christenson, and Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, defines family connectedness as, “a sense of closeness and caring from family members. It is one of the most important contributors to positive outcomes and psychological health of adolescents” (Hall-Lande, Eisenberg, Christenson, Neumark-Sztainer 3). From this definition of family connectedness, it is extremely significant for family members to offer support to one another, something that Melinda does not receive. Melinda frequently mentions her parents’ bad relationship and their strong hatred for one another (Anderson 125). In addition to having no support from her family members, Melinda also receives no support from Heather. When sitting at lunch with Melinda, Heather states, “You don’t like anything. You are the most depressed person I’ve ever met, and excuse me for saying this, but you are no fun to be around and I think you need professional help” (Anderson 105). Heather recognizes Melinda’s depression, and instead of supporting her, she attempts to disassociate herself with Melinda. After being deserted by her family and her only friend, Melinda is left with absolutely no social support.

Following her rape trauma and depression, Melinda becomes socially isolated, relating to her loneliness. Researchers have agreed upon the concept that humans are in need of social relationships, which is known as a psychological theory. In the article “Perceived Social Isolation in a Community Sample: Its Prevalence and Correlates with Aspects of Peoples' Lives,” by Graeme Hawthorne, PhD, researchers believe that, “Collectively, these [psychological theories] are consistent with the existential loneliness hypothesis; i.e. that people need to belong” (Hawthorne 140). This evidence helps support the idea that the feeling of not belonging will cause loneliness. In Speak, Melinda does not feel socially accepted and because of her rape trauma, she does not allow herself to become a part of any crowd. Due to Melinda’s rape, her social impairment discourages her to accept any possible relationships. This is demonstrated when Melinda mentions that she would refuse to wear anything seasonal if she were a part of the “Martha” clique, a group of popular girls at Melinda’s school (Anderson 69). When Melinda returns to school, she notices that everyone in her grade falls into groups of people. However, she quickly realizes that she does not fall into a group when she thinks to herself, “I am clanless… I am Outcast” (Anderson 4). Anderson capitalizes “Outcast” to emphasize Melinda’s single-membered clan to the readers, primarily to depict how alone Melinda really is in her school. Along with having no family or friends to support Melinda, she is also surrounded by people who dislike and bully her in school. Melinda’s school plays a large role in the novel by encircling her in a bitter atmosphere almost everyday. Melinda is bullied when a girl grabs her hair and yanks it at a social event (Anderson 29). In this scene, Melinda was physically attacked by a peer. Melinda is disliked and feels down on herself, especially when a group of girls are laughing extremely loud, and she knows that it is about her (Anderson 4). Melinda is disconnected from her school, contributing to her social isolation. Throughout the novel, Melinda is overtaken with the feeling of loneliness, as a result of having the constant thought of not belonging.
The aftermath of Melinda’s rape trauma has proven to lead to severely negative effects. Melinda demonstrates these effects by suffering through depression, isolation, and loneliness, all without any support. Because of Melinda’s rape and struggle through adolescence, she will forever be impacted. Melinda’s trauma was a chain effect; the rape led to negative self-image, leading to depression which was followed by a lack of social support, social isolation, and loneliness. If Melinda had not gotten the courage to speak, the effects that the rape had on her could have been a lot more severe and damaging. Adolescents can relate to Melinda in the sense that experiencing traumatic events can have serious effects on a young person. Adolescents are constantly being exposed to these situations in the modern world, and all situations can affect one in their adolescent years, for it is the time that teenagers develop into themselves.