Sexual Assault Awareness

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Chances are you know a sexual assault survivor. Sexual violence affects millions of people every year. Yes, even right here in our community. During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we intentionally focus on increasing knowledge and sharing local resources, like our 24-hour Sexual Assault Helpline: 863.413.2707. Will you help spread the word throughout April?

sad woman tear running down face

About Sexual Assault

According to the CDC, sexual violence is sexual activity when consent is not obtained or freely given. It is a serious public health problem in the United States that profoundly impacts lifelong health, opportunity, and well-being.

This year during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) we are focusing on prevention. Help our Rape Recovery Program increase awareness during SAAM:

Follow and share posts from the Victim Services Facebook page and Instagram account
Start meaningful discussions with friends and family
Participate in Wear Teal Day, Denim Day and other SAAM activities

24-Hour Support

Did you know our advocates are available 24 hours a day to support sexual assault survivors? Within one hour of receiving a call, our trained advocate is at the hospital, sitting beside the survivor as she or he navigates this traumatic experience. We provide emotional support, a clothing kit, help navigating legal matters, and more.

Sexual Assault Helpline: 863.413.2707

Advocate Supporting Young Female Survivor

Sexual violence is more common than you think

Every 68 Seconds, an American is Sexually Assaulted. While we’re making progress to end sexual violence, even today, only 25 out of every 1,000 rapists will end up in prison (RAINN).

The majority of sexual violence (SV) victims are under 30 (RAINN)
54% of SV victims are age 18 to 24 (RAINN)
1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape (RAINN)
82% of all juvenile victims are female (RAINN)
90% of children who are victims know their abuser (US Dept of Human & Health Services)
30% of children are abused by family members (US Dept of Human & Health Services)

About 3% of American men—or 1 in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime (RAINN)
Almost 1 in 3 men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during his lifetime (CDC)
Transgender students are at higher risk for sexual violence (RAINN)
Sexual violence is costly. Recent estimates put the lifetime cost of rape at $122,461 per survivor, including medical costs, lost productivity, criminal justice activities, and other costs (CDC)

As RAINN notes, it’s not always easy to know what to say when someone tells you they’ve been sexually assaulted, especially if they are a friend or family member. For a survivor, disclosing to someone they care about can be very difficult, so we encourage you to be as supportive and non-judgemental as possible.

Often listening and providing resources such as our 24-hour helpline are the best ways to support a survivor.

Check out more of RAINN’s tips for talking with survivors below.

I believe you.

"It took a lot of courage to tell me about this.” It can be extremely difficult for survivors to come forward and share their stories. They may feel ashamed or worried they’ll be blamed. The best thing you can do is to believe them.

It’s not your fault.

"You didn’t do anything to deserve this." Survivors may blame themselves, especially if they know the perpetrator personally. Remind the survivor, maybe even more than once, that they are not to blame.

Supportive male friend helping female friend

You are not alone.

"I care about you and am here to listen or help in any way I can." Let the survivor know that you are there for them and willing to listen if they are comfortable sharing it. Remind them about Peace River Center's services that can support them as they heal from the experience.

Sorry it happened.

"This shouldn’t have happened to you.” Acknowledge the experience has affected their life. Phrases like “This must be really tough for you,” and, “I’m so glad you are sharing this with me,” help to communicate empathy.

Continued Support

Every sexual assault survivor’s journey to healing is different. Having support through Peace River Center Victim Services can help, so try to encourage your friend to seek out our free counseling, but remember the choice is always theirs to make. According to RAINN.org, here are some additional ways you can support a loved one who survived the trauma of sexual assault:

Avoid judgment. Make sure you don’t ask accusing questions like “What were you wearing?” or “Had you been drinking?” Remember no matter what someone wears, sexual assault is never their fault. Consent cannot be given if someone is even slightly intoxicated, sexual assault is never the survivor’s fault.
Be patient and understanding. It can be difficult to watch a survivor struggle with the effects of sexual assault for an extended period of time. Avoid phrases that suggest they’re taking too long to recover such as, “You’ve been acting like this for a while now,” or “How much longer will you feel this way?”
Check in periodically. The event may have happened a long time ago, but that doesn’t mean the pain is gone. Check in with the survivor to remind them you still care about their well-being and believe their story. Survivors may also be triggered by something in the media or an experience. Remind the survivor professional support is available through Peace River Center Victim Services.
You can also benefit from our services. Our Rape Recovery Program provides support for friends and family members of sexual assault survivors too. You can call our office line 863.413.2708 and speak with a compassionate advocate. You can ask us about advice on medical care and laws surrounding sexual assault. In addition to encouraging the survivor to practice good self-care during this difficult time, you should also make sure you’re taking time for yourself.

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