What to Do if You Are Raped or Sexually Assaulted
If you are raped or sexually assaulted, the first action to take is to get away from your attacker and into a safe space. Then, it is important to tell an adult or call 911. If you have serious injuries, you should call 911 immediately. Otherwise, what you do next will depend on whether you experienced rape or sexual assault and the specifics of what happened. You should try to contact a parent or other trusted adult to help you determine what to do next and to give you support. At any time, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline, 1-800-656-HOPE.
Reporting a rape or sexual assault to an adult can be scary, but it's very important. Rape and sexual assault are serious crimes, and seeking treatment can help you with any injuries you may have, give you the opportunity to report the crime to the police, and provide access to counseling and support that can help you cope with the experience.
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Below are sources PAMF accessed when researching this topic. PAMF, however, does not sponsor or endorse any of these sites, nor does PAMF guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on them.
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN).
Fisher BS, Cullen FT, Turner MG. The Sexual Victimization of College Women. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice: 2000. Publication No. NCJ 182369
Catalano, Shannan M. Bureau of Justice Statistics: National Crime Victimization Survey. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Program 2004. Publication No. NCJ 205455