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Helping a Survivor

How to help a sexual assault survivor who comes to you:

  • Listen. Let the person express his/her feelings.
  • If you feel unsure about what to do next, call the Sexual Assault Services Coordinator at 412-648-7856. She can provide you with information concerning the safety of the survivor, medical attention, reporting procedures, and appropriate resources. What is shared with the Coordinator is confidential.
  • Encourage the survivor to talk with the Sexual Assault Services Coordinator, to seek medical attention, and to notify the police. However, let the survivor make his/her own decisions.
  • Assist the survivor in contacting the resources she/he wishes.
  • Get help for yourself if you need it. It isn't easy to listen to the details of a sexual assault, especially if you are a friend or relative of the person who is the survivor. Contact the Sexual Assault Services Coordinator at 412-648-7930 or the University Counseling Center at 412-648-7930 for yourself if you would like to talk about your own feelings.

While most sexual assault survivors are women, men can also be assaulted. The University of Pittsburgh provides medical, emotional, academic, and legal support for male as well as female survivors of sexual assault.

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