Being a victim of sexual assault is a terrible thing. You weren’t expecting this to happen. The trauma is too much to bear, and somehow, you have to figure out what your next move is. So what do you do when you’re a victim of sexual assault?
Get to a Safe Location
The priority should be getting somewhere safe (if you aren’t already). If the assault happened in your home, secure your doors and windows. If you are at the perpetrator’s home, leave immediately and go to the next house over. Ensure that nobody is following you.
Preserve Evidence After a Sexual Assault
Do not change your clothes, bathe, or shower. We know this is the first thing you will want to do, but this could destroy evidence of the assault. Even if you’re hesitant to report the incident, we still recommend waiting until after you seek medical attention to bathe or change your clothing.
Contact the Police
Many victims do not report assault to the police. Many reasons can account for this—perhaps they know the person or have concerns about the police not believing you.
But it is very important to report the assault. If you do not report it, the perpetrator will continue to do this to others, and there is always a chance of it happening again. We don’t blame you for being afraid, it’s a scary event to experience. But reporting it will give you some of your power back and hopefully prevent recurrences.
We recommend that you call the police and then a friend or family member so you have support with you. Volunteers who work with the police undergo good training to support victims. If you don’t have a support person to call, like many people, you can ask the operator about these trained professionals during your call.
Seek Medical Attention After a Sexual Assault
You can do this before calling the police or after, but you must seek medical attention after a sexual assault. Even if you don’t know if you will report the incident, having this evidence on file is important. The rape kit allows a suspect’s DNA to be matched to the DNA that was found on your body after the assault. Also, if you are injured, you will receive the care you need at the same time.
If you feel you are not being taken seriously at the hospital or the police station, be sure to report any wrongful treatment to the appropriate people. You are important, and what happened to you matters.
Process the Trauma Caused by Sexual Assault
It is important that you feel the feelings associated with what has happened to you. Do not push the feelings down, don’t try to forget. Finally, seek therapy and talk to your loved ones (if you feel comfortable to do so). This is a horrible thing that happened to you, and if you don’t deal with it, your emotional state could deteriorate. Care for your mental health after an attack, you deserve the best.
You are NOT Alone
There are over 463,634 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States. Remember, this was not your fault, and you are not alone in this. The person who did this to you deserves to face the law, and pursuing charges against them will help you get your power back.
Be aware, and stay safe!
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