|
The support and understanding of a
friend or family member can be very helpful to a
survivor of sexual assault . Many survivors worry
about how their family and/or friends will react. It
is important to let your friend or family member
know right away that you care and want to help.
There are also many specific things you can do:
Begin by believing.
Many people remain silent about being raped because
they feel ashamed and/or fear that they will not be
believed if they tell people about what happened to
them.
Just listen.
Listen, but don’t press for details. Let your friend
decide how much s/he feels comfortable telling you
about the assault and its impact.
Don’t tell them what to do.
When a person is raped, choice has been taken
away—let a survivor make her/his own choices and
decisions about what to do next. Do what you can to
help, but let her/him decide if s/he will notify the
police, contact a rape treatment center, or seek
medical attention. Also, be sure to ask before you
touch or hug your friend.
Let them know it’s not their
fault.
The responsibility
of the rape or sexual assault belongs completely to
the assailant. Even if your friend was intoxicated,
s/he is not to blame.
Provide support.
Support a survivor’s
decision about whom to tell and how to proceed (even
if you disagree with it). Offer to accompany her/him
if s/he decides to go to the police or seek medical
care. Be prepared to listen for as long as your
friend needs support.
Obtain your own
support.
It is important
for those who care for survivors to obtain support
as well. Our hotline is also available to those
significant others seeking guidance, information,
referrals, crisis intervention, and options
regarding their own counseling.
back to top ^
|
