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If you know someone who has been assaulted:
Believe him or
her unconditionally.
Only 1-2% of those who claim sexual assault are found to be false
reports.
Remember that
sexual assault is about power and control.
Sexual assault is not about sex. It
is pertains to the domination over another individual.
Give the
survivor control over his or her decisions.
During sexual assault, power is taken away from the survivor.
It is important to let the survivor take back the power they lost from
the attack. It is also important
that one supports their decisions no matter what they choose.
Understand
that you cannot control their suffering. You cannot wave a wand and
make the survivor feel better. But
you can be there for the survivor.
Understand
that healing is a slow process.
The survivor may experience a range of emotions including but not limited
to denial, disbelief, fear, depression, mood swings, anger, helplessness, or
appetite changes. It’s important
to remember that there is no typical or single emotion response to sexual
assault. Each person is different in how they deal with the situation.
Listen to the
survivor. Let the
person know that you are there for them to talk to whenever they are ready.
Assure
the survivor that it is not their fault.
Sexual assault is never the survivor’s fault.
Make sure that there is no implied blame when asking about the incident.
Refrain from questions like “Why were you at that location at that
time,” or “What were you wearing?” The
survivor did not asked to be sexually assaulted.
Encourage
medical attention.
Even if the survivor does not want to follow a police report, it is
important that he or she receives a medical exam to ensure they are OK.
Let
the survivor know that professional help is available.
DCRCC offers free counseling and support groups for survivors of sexual
assault. The center also has a free
anonymous hotline open 24 hours a day.
Also, remember your own needs. Pay attention to yourself and how you are dealing with the
situation. Take care of yourself;
Find help if you need it. It
is beneficial to find someone who you can talk to about what is going on.
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