Know What to Do When Sexually Assaulted
View the Power Topic Know What to Do When Sexually Assaulted
What’s Ahead
- Frustration and confusion are common when reporting sexual assault
- Protecting your privacy: mandated reporters
- Calling a sexual assault resource center (7 min. video)
- What to do immediately if assaulted
- Know whom to call: helplines and websites
- Supporting survivors
Frustration and confusion are common
Sexual harassment and assault should never be normalized, and the victim is never at fault—under any circumstance!
Students and families across the country struggle with the devastating impact of sexual harassment and sexual assault:
- Often victims don’t realize they’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted because they’ve come to accept sexual harassment and certain types of sexual assault as normal.
- They often blame themselves for sexual assault.
Schools or organizations may use their considerable power to shut down complaints of sexual harassment or assault:
- To avoid being sued if they failed to respond appropriately
- To protect the institution’s reputation
Institutions may deny the assault, blame the victim, or frustrate the victim with excessive process, hoping they will go away.
Whether the harassment or assault occurred at school, on the Internet, or elsewhere, institutions that receive federal funding must comply with Title IX, a federal civil rights law guaranteeing every student an equal education free from sexual harassment and assault.
Shock follows
- The survivor’s feelings of shame, guilt, fear, and shock are normal.
- It’s important to seek the support of trusted adults and a professional counselor after an assault.
- Not everyone is comfortable reaching out. That’s because if the victim is under the age of 18, certain adults, called mandated reporters, must report the assault to the authorities.
- Families are confused and feel powerless when an institution denies the harassment or assault. Many survivors do not feel comfortable returning.
Mandated reporters
- Mandated reporters usually include social workers, teachers, health care workers/ medical professionals, childcare providers, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and other educators. In certain states all adult citizens are mandated reporters.
- Mandated reporters are required by law to report suspected child abuse and possibly child-on-child sexual misconduct, usually to a state child protective services hotline or to law enforcement.
- If a survivor wants confidential information without triggering a report, it is important not to give their last name. If reporting by phone they also may want to block their caller ID.
- Watch “Rape victim gets confidential help.”
Video: A survivor gets help
Here we watch a teenager calling a community sexual assault response center and learning how to take care of herself after an assault. She describes common responses and fears, talks about how the assault affects her schooling and activities, learns how to take care of her health, how a victim’s advocate can help her and about a program called State Crime Victims Compensation, which helps pay for the costs.
She also learns about people who can help her return to school safely, such as a victim’s advocate and a school’s Title IX Coordinator.
Stream the video at the SASH Club YouTube channel.
Talk about it
- What do you see as the biggest challenge for a survivor to:
- Seek help?
- Re-engage in normal activities?
- Why is maintaining confidentiality while seeking help a concern for some survivors?
- What in the culture contributes to victims blaming themselves?
Common physical responses to sexual assault
- Bruising and bleeding
- Difficulty walking
- Soreness and muscle tension
- Shaking, sweating
- Broken or dislocated bones
- Nausea/diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Changes in eating, digestion, and sleeping habits
- Weight gain or loss
- Shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat
- Sexually transmitted infections
Common mental/emotional responses after sexual assault
- Depression, sadness, feelings of hopelessness, unusual crying, loss of energy or interest in activities previously enjoyed, numbness feeling alone, worthless, guilt, dread/fear for safety, feeling dependent, vulnerable, unclean, anger, hate, rage and other emotions
- Lack of control over one’s life, worry about what others think, feeling that these reactions are a sign of weakness when they are normal
- Severe anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, uncontrolled thoughts and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Feeling unreal and not present, unable to focus on work or schoolwork
Common behaviors after sexual assault
- Sudden use of drugs, tobacco, or alcohol, engaging in risky, impulsive, isolating, or unusual behaviors
- Difficulty trusting others, doubting relationships, distorted views of others
- Participating in abusive relationships or unusual sexual activities
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts, self-harm behaviors like cutting or self-destructive behavior
Supporting survivors
- Listen and believe the survivor.
- Be with the survivor, listen to their pain without trying to fix it.
- Listen to what they need; empower them to take the actions they want to take.
Talk about it
- If someone came to you for support:
- What is the first thing you would do?
- How would you help them secure more support?
- Consider role playing this situation.
- Does supporting a survivor sound like something you could do? Why or why not?
- Why is listening to survivors important?
- Why is it so important that a survivor feel empowered to pursue care and support?
- Why is it important to preserve evidence?
Do more: Survivor support
- Create posters, notebook inserts, brochures or flyers with contact information:
- For your local sexual assault response organization. Use this interactive form at RAINN to locate resources in your area. Call to see if they work with survivors under age 18.
- Including national helplines for survivors of sexual harassment and assault
- Share the Stop Sexual Assault in Schools (SSAIS) flyer Know What to Do if you are Sexually Harassed or Assaulted or post this version with QR codes.
- Invite a speaker to an assembly to discuss sexual assault prevention and self-care.
- Post to your personal or SASH Club social media platforms suggestions for supporting sexual assault survivors.
Do more: Institutional practices
- Watch a Title IX Coordinator taking complaints about sexual harassment.
- Ask your institution’s Title IX Coordinator to share with your club the ways your school prevents sexual harassment/assault and provides services for students traumatized by sexual harassment and assault.
- Compare practices at your institution (such as how to report incidents) with best practices using the SSAIS printable guides:
