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I am Helping Someone

Someone disclosed to you they were sexually assaulted, how should you respond?

DO DON'T
  • Listen and believe them
  • Validate their feelings about the incident
  • Show them you support and care about them
  • Help them find resources or make a complaint
  • Understand your own limits and comfort level, encourage them to talk to a trained professional like a counsellor, social worker, or healthcare provider
  • Push them to go into detail about the incident
  • Minimize what happened to them
  • Tell anyone without the permission of the victim
  • Force them to go to the hospital or police


Most importantly, make sure that person is safe, heard and supported. If they would like help filing a report, here are some Reporting Options: