Break the Silence
Sexual Assualt

Sexual assault and gender violence occurs all around us, and more often than you think. If you or someone you know needs support, contact our REACH Center 24 hour helpline at 518.943.4482. You are not alone.

Sexual Violence Happens

Sexual assault and rape are never a victim's fault

One in five women in the United States experienced completed or attempted rape during their lifetime.

Source: https://www.nsvrc.org

Nationally, 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime.

Source: https://www.nsvrc.org

About Sexual Violence

And who it affects

Sexual violence happens. It happens in every community and to anyone. It affects people of all ages, races, and genders.

Sexual Violence is any type of unwanted sexual contact. This includes words and actions of a sexual nature against a person's will and without their consent. A person may use force, threats, manipulation, or coercion to commit sexual violence.

Forms of sexual violence include:

Rape or sexual assault
Child sexual assault
Sexual assault by a person's spouse or partner
Unwanted sexual contact/touching
Sexual harassment
Sexual exploitation and trafficking
Exposing one's genitals to others without consent
Masturbating in public
Watching someone engage in private acts without their knowledge or permission
Nonconsensual image sharing

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Break the Silence

Speak out against rape & abuse

67.5%

of instances of rape are estimated to go unreported

88%

of child sexual abuse cases are not reported

Rape is often not reported or convicted

There are numerous reasons a person may choose not to report to law enforcement or tell anyone about a victimization they experienced. Some of the most common include:

a fear of not being believed
being afraid of retaliation
shame or fear of being blamed
pressure from others
distrust towards law enforcement
a desire to protect the attacker for other reasons

Assistance is Available

Our REACH Center is here to help

24hr Support Helpline

Call: 518.943.4482

Call our REACH Center helpline anytime, 24 hours a day. Trained staff provide crisis counseling and support services.

After Sexual Assault

What to Do

Connecting with support can be extremely important after sexual assault. Call our REACH Center for support. Click to find out what steps you should take.

Help Support Others

Find Ways to Help

Domestic Violence, Crime, and Assault Victims need support. Learn ways you can help start a conversation and support someone you care about.

Effects of Sexual Violence

The impact on mental health

In addition to the physical effects sexual violence impacts on the body, there are also severe psychological and emotional effects.

These effects aren't always easy to deal with. Healing is a process that takes time, and with the right help and support they can be managed.

3 most common impacts

Depression

One of the most common forms of emotional and psychological reaction that victims of rape and sexual assault can experience is depression.

Flashbacks

During a flashback, memories of past traumas feel as if they are taking place in the current moment.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

After a traumatic event, it is typical to have feelings of anxiety, stress, or fear, making it difficult to adjust or cope for some time afterwards.

Additional effects to mental health

Self-Harm

Deliberate self-harm, or self-injury, is when a person inflicts physical harm on himself or herself. This can include cutting, scratching skin, pulling out hair, or other means of self-injury.

Substance Abuse

Substances can be a dangerous way to cope with the trauma. Utilizing substances to temporarily forget, numb the emotional pain, or find relief can have other harmful effects on physical and mental wellbeing.

Suicide

Suicide is preventable and suicidal thoughts aren't permanent. If you are thinking about suicide, there are resources to give you the support you need through this tough time.

Sleep Disorders

Symptoms of sleep disorders can include trouble falling or staying asleep, sleeping at unusual times of day, or sleeping for longer or shorter than usual.

Dissociation

Dissociation is one of the many defense mechanisms the brain can use to cope with the trauma of sexual violence.

Panic Attacks

A panic attack is a sudden feeling of intense fear and anxiety that happens in situations when there may be no immediate danger that tends to affect people who have experienced trauma, abuse, or high levels of stress.

After Sexual Assault

What you need to know

If you're a victim of sexual assault, it's hard to know how to react. You may be physically hurt and emotionally drained. It's hard to know what to do next, where to go, or who you can trust.

Learning what steps you can take following sexual violence can help find your footing in a difficult time.

6 things to do after sexual assault

Ensure your own safety

After the experience of sexual trauma, the first and most important thing to do is ensure your own safety and wellbeing.

The immediate aftermath of an assault leaves most people in shock, derealization, and a sense of being overwhelmed. Seek what coping mechanisms help you in the face of major stressors - it may be calling your closest friend, trusted family member to come stay with you or getting in bed under layers of blankets - whatever helps you feel safer.

Consider your medical options

Many survivors may be reluctant to pursue medical attention following a sexual assault. Choosing to go to the hospital or a medical rape center can be beneficial for a number of reasons. Most importantly, health care practitioners can treat bodily injury and help ensure your sexual and physical health. Additionally, they can provide you with a rape kit - a forensic exam to collect DNA and other evidence.

Making the decision to seek medical attention can be scary. Our REACH & Child Advocacy Centers provide support for this process.

Process your experience

Being a victim of sexual assault is a traumatic experience, one that makes addressing or processing the incident something that many desire to simply avoid or pretend it didn't happen.

Healing doesn't happen through avoidance. You can't go around it, only through it. There are many ways for healthy coping habits as well as trauma therapy. The anxiety and guilt can even make you wonder "was it my fault? Was it actually consensual?"

Our REACH and CAC centers can provide support in seeking therapy and coping mechanisms.

Consider your legal options

Some survivors want justice and are adamant they want to file a police report or prosecute the assailant. For many others, it may not be an easy decision - they may be reluctant to report the assault and may be confused as to what they should do next.

70% of sexual assaults are committed by a person the victim knows. As such, survivors feel additional shame, fear, and anxiety over what others may think or feel fearful of victim shaming.

Assault is someone taking away your power. For a survivor, empowering may be filing a report or telling their story.

Reconnect to yourself and your life

It can be difficult to feel like yourself after sexual assault. You can feel violated and powerless with a number of mental health concerns that can make it challenging to live your life the same.

Until you process your trauma and learn how to actively cope, it may be hard to go back to that yoga class or attend a party with a group of friends. Never push yourself too far to be social when you're not ready. Recovery is a process and healing takes time.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse or assault please contact our REACH Center 24 hour helpline.

Supporting Others

How you can help

It's not always easy to know what to say when someone tells you they've been sexually assaulted, especially if they're a friend or family member.

There's no normal or "right" way to react when you find out that someone you care about has survived an act of sexual violence. There are many ways you can help a friend or family member who has been affected, and it may be just as simple as being there for them.

Ways to be supportive through the healing process

Tips for Talking with Survivors

Sounds simple, right? Now imagine it's your sister telling you your father did something, or your boyfriend. The act is something difficult to comprehend at first and your initial reaction may be denial. The best thing you can do is to believe them.

I believe you.

It can be extremely difficult for survivors to come forward and share their story. They may feel ashamed, concerned about what others may think, believe, or that they may be blamed. It takes courage - recognize their strength.

It took a lot of courage to tell me about this.

Survivors may blame themselves, especially if they know the perpetrator personally. Remind the survivor that they are not to blame and they didn't do anything to deserve this. They may even need to hear this more than once.

It's not your fault.

Let the survivor know that you are there for them and willing to listen to their story if they are comfortable sharing it. Assess if there are people in their life they feel comfortable going to. Remind them there are support services available to assist them as they heal.

You are not alone. I care about you and I'm here.