Helping a Friend

  • Listen
  • Believe your friend
  • Say, “It’s not your fault.”
  • Be supportive
  • Be gentle, patient, and sensitive to your friend’s feelings and needs.
  • Give your friend helpful information like the hotline number 202-333-RAPE (7273)
  • If your friend wants to report, he/she should not shower, bathe, douche, brush their teeth or change clothes.
  • Don’t Ask blaming questions like “why didn’t you scream?” or “why did you go with him?”
  • Don’t Ask for details. Wait for your friend to share. Give time and space.
  • Don’t pressure your friend to do anything, even to report it.