Help for Victims of Sexual Assault
Sexual assault means any form of sexual contact without a person’s consent, including the threat of sexual contact. Sexual assault can range from unwanted sexual touching to forced sexual intercourse. It can involve situations where agreement to sexual activity is obtained by someone abusing a position of trust, power, or authority. Sexual assault is an act of violence used to exert power and control over others.
Sexual assault is a crime, whatever the past or present relationship between the people involved (e.g., married or living together, dating, friends, acquaintances, strangers). No one has the right to threaten or force another person to have sexual contact. No one has the right to abuse a position of trust, power, or authority to get another person to have sex.
Each person can have different reactions to victimization. Trauma is the term that describes both the physical and emotional reactions to a traumatic event. Common symptoms of trauma include reviewing parts of the crime over and over in one’s mind, mood swings, shaken sense of personal safety, heightened sense of smell or hearing, emotional detachment, disassociation, and so on. Symptoms associated with trauma may take several weeks to subside. If you’re concerned about your or another’s reactions to a traumatic event, see a doctor, your counsellor, or contact VictimLink BC.
If you are a victim of sexual assault and require assistance, or if you just want to talk to someone, please call VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808.
Steps to Take if You Need Help
- If you are in immediate danger or need urgent medical attention, contact the police or ambulance services by calling 911 or the emergency number for your community.
- If you want to report to the police and the situation is not urgent (e.g., the sexual assault is not recent and you are not in danger), call the non-emergency number for police in your community.
- If you’re not sure about reporting to the police, please contact VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808 to discuss your options.
- If the sexual assault has just occurred, go to a safe place and call VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808.
- Tell someone you trust about what happened. If a friend or family member can provide emotional support or help you in practical ways, ask for help.
- Contact the VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808. A Victim Service Worker can help you directly, provide emotional support, and can also refer you to other community agencies or your doctor for a medical examination and treatment as soon as possible after a sexual assault.
- Go to a hospital assault. Early medical treatment (i.e., within 72 hours) may reduce the physical impacts of the crime. Accompaniment to the hospital or to the police may be available in your area. Please call VictimLink BC for more information.
- Even if the sexual assault is not recent, it may be important to go see your doctor or to a medical clinic for a check-up.
- If you have questions about sexual assault or your rights, contact a Victim Service Worker in your community or call VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808.
Reporting to Police
Victims may wish to report the sexual assault to the police. Reporting immediately after a sexual assault can help to ensure that as much evidence as possible is obtained. This increases the chances of successfully prosecuting the person who committed the assault. However, there is no time limit on when a sexual assault can be reported to police. Even if it happened months or years ago, the police can still investigate.
A support person can be with you if you decide to report to the police. Victims can get help from victim services and other agencies whether or not the police are involved.
If you’re not sure about reporting to the police, please call VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808 to get more information about your options.
If you are a victim of sexual assault and require assistance, or if you just want to talk to someone, please call VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808.