Lindsay Ell is speaking out about not one, but two traumatic events in her life. The Canadian reveals she was sexually assaulted twice, both at age 13 and 21, sharing part of her story in a new song, “make you,” from her upcoming Heart Theory album.

“I was raped when I was 13, and it happened again when I was 21,” Lindsay told People. “The song only talks about the first time. It’s just a difficult thing to talk about, and it’s something that I process every day still.”

Lindsay chose to release the song on July 7, which is Global Forgiveness Day, sharing what she has learned as part of her healing process.

“I wanted to release it on Global Forgiveness Day. Forgiving people in our past is a huge thing for whatever reason, but forgiving yourself is so important,” Lindsay explained. “There’s an incredible amount of healing that can happen, and it can’t happen until you can truly open up that forgiveness for your own heart.”

Lindsay realized she wanted to share her story, while speaking at Youth for Tomorrow, an organization that helps young victims of sexual abuse.

“Three years ago at a visit to help launch the music program at Youth For Tomorrow, I sat down in a conference room with a few girls aged 12-18 who had all been victims of rape or sex trafficking,” Lindsay recalled. “I shared my story, they shared their stories, and I was so inspired. Walking out of that room that day I knew the time had come to share my story more widely, otherwise I would be denying myself an opportunity to connect and help other girls or boys, like those in that room.

“It’s a very difficult thing to do, but an incredibly necessary thing to talk about,” she added. “We don’t realize how much this stuff is happening in our own community, and that is partly due to not discussing it.”

The 31-year-old admits her healing is still a work in progress, but she is on the path to recovery.

“I still carry shame and guilt, but I’m taking the hand of my 13-year-old self and my 21-year-old self and fighting every day together,” Lindsay said.

Lindsay is launching the Make You Movement, a charitable fund whose mission is to “help organizations that support at-risk youth, domestic abuse and sexual assault survivors by provided funds on an as-needed basis.”

“I believe music has the power to heal,” Lindsay said of the new venture. “The reason I decided to share my story at this point in my life is that I want it to be able to help a lot of people; and the best way to help people is to not only raise my voice, but to raise money in an effort to raise awareness and understanding.

“I want to support programs that help girls and boys who may have been victims and support safety and prevention programs that aim to keep potential victims safe,” she continued. “Finally writing ‘make you’ has given me the courage to not let my past decide my future, so I am taking action in order to do just that. My hope is that my actions and song will inspire the same in others.”

Lindsay wrote “make you” with Brandy Clark, whom Lindsay credits with being brave and bold enough to help Lindsay pen the powerful tune.

“Once I decided it was time to share my story, there was specifically one co-writer who came to mind,” Lindsay recounted. “I called Brandy, an absolute wordsmith and songwriter genius, and asked her if she would write this song with me. She fearlessly and immediately said yes. The day we wrote ‘make you’ I knew we had written something special that will hopefully help others to not feel alone in their survival. And more personally, it was finally the moment in my life where I got to validate that little girl inside – letting her know that ‘I see her and I love her.’”

Lindsay hopes sharing “make you” will help others who have experienced the trauma she endured, and help them find healing.

“I felt so alone for so long, like ‘This only happened to me.’ But it’s not true,” Lindsay said. “If I would’ve known that when I was 13, I would have felt such a deep feeling of relief.”

heart theory will be released on August 14. It is available for pre-order via her website and Amazon.

Photo Credit: BBR Music Group / Jeremy Cowart