rapeyoung

PostedunderHealthGuides.Updated13July2020. RelatedContent

Everybodydeservesrespectandtofeelsafeintheirsexualrelationships.Weknowthatsexualassaultandrapehappen,anditcanbehardtotalkaboutorknowwhattodo.Thisguidewilltalkaboutwhatsexualassaultandrapeare,whattodoifyouhavebeenavictimofsexualassault,howyoucanhelpafriend,andwheretogoformoreinformation.

Sexualabuseisanyunwantedsexualcontact.Sexualassaultandrapearelegaldefinitionsusedforsexualcontactwithoutsexualconsent.Thesedefinitionsvaryfromcountrytocountryandregiontoregion.Sexualassaultandrapedonothavetobeviolentorleaveaphysicalmark.TolearnmoreaboutthespecificdefinitionsintheUnitedStatesandyourspecificstate,visitthiswebsite.

mittedbyastranger,friend,datingpartner,oraspouse.Infact,most(80%)hevictimknows.Morethanhalf(55%)urnearorinthevictim’shome.

Sexualassaultandrapemayhaveimmediateconsequencesincludingpregnancyandsexuallytransmittedinfections.Sexualassaultandrapemayhavelastingeffectsincludingpost-traumaticstressdisorder,depression,thoughtsofsuicide,attemptedsuicide,druguse,problemsatschoolorwork,andproblemsinpersonalrelationships.

Ifyouhaveexperiencedsexualassaultorrape,itisnotyourfaultandyouarenotalone.Youmaynotknowwhattodo,howtofeel,orwhototell-andthatisokay.Thesedecisionsarepersonal,andyougettodecidewhatyoudo.

Herearesomethingsyoumightwanttoconsiderimmediatelyafterasexualassault:

Manypeoplewhohaveexperiencedsexualassaultorrapenevertellanyoneaboutit.Therearemanyreasonswhysomeonemaynotreportsexualassault,including:

Itcantakedays,weeks,months,odecidetotalkaboutasexualassault.Youmayconsidertellingsomeoneyoutrustaboutthesexualassault,suchasafriend,parent,counselor,fortabletalkingtosomeoneyoudon’tknowconfidentially(seenumbersforhotlinesbelow).Talkingtoatrainedprofessional(counselor,therapist,healthcareprofessional,nationalhotline)rocesswhathappenedtoyou,togetmedicalcare,totreatdepressionorPTSD,ortobereferredtoresourcesinyourarea.

Itishardtofindoutthatsomeoneyoucareabouthasbeenhurt.Themostimportantthingyoucandoissupportthispersonandremindthemtheassaultisnottheirfault.Theymayormaynotdecidetotellotherpeopleorreportthesexualassaultorrapetothepolice.Itisimportanttounderstandthatthisisapersonaldecision,anditistheirchoice.Letthemknowyouarethereforthemnomatterwhattheydecidetodo.Ifyouarenotsurehowtohelpthem,trytalkingtoatrustedadult(likeacounselororhealthcareprovider),visitingthewebsitesbelow,orcallingthehotlinesbelow.

Youcanalsotakeanactiveroleinpreventingsexualassaultorrape.Trytoavoidbeingjusta“bystander”;instead,ifyouseeorhearsomethingthatisnotright.Forexample,tellingafrienditisnotcrytohook-upwithsomeonewhocan’tconsenttosexualcontact(theyaredrunk,high,orpassedout).