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From YouTube: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Description
‼ Trigger warning: sexual assault ‼
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Disclosing a sexual assault can be extremely scary for a survivor as they may not be sure how individuals may react. Here are some tips on how to support a loved one who has been a victim:
1. Work to give them their power and control back.
2. Let them know you believe them and take their disclosure seriously.
3. Don’t make decisions for your loved one. Leave the decision-making to them.
4. Talk through the options and support their decision.
For more tips, contact the 24-hour sexual assault hotline at 303.322.7273 or visit thebluebench.org or rainn.org.
A
Hi,
my
name
is
colleen.
I
am
a
victim
advocate
with
the
english
police
department.
Sexual
violence
at
its
root
is
about
one
person
feeling
entitled
to
another
person's
body
and
using
their
power
to
control
that
person
as
a
friend,
family,
member
or
loved
one.
One
of
the
key
things
you
can
do
is
work
to
give
them
their
power
and
control
back.
Supporting
a
survivor
of
sexual
assault
can
be
emotional
and
challenging
experience.
A
You
are
likely
trying
to
process
your
own
feelings
about
what
happened,
while
also
wanting
to
be
the
best
support
you
can
be
for
them
as
they
decide
their
next
steps.
Disclosing
a
sexual
assault
can
be
extremely
scary
for
a
survivor,
as
they
may
not
be
sure
how
you
may
react.
Your
reaction
and
the
support
you
provide
to
the
person
who
confides
in
you
is
critical
to
their
healing.
Let
them
know
you
believe
them.
This
can
be
as
easy
as
saying
I
believe
you
and
I'm
sorry.
This
happened
to
you.
A
Take
their
disclosure
seriously
provide
loving
kind
and
non-questioning
support
can
be
very
empowering
and
can
assist
one
in
seeking
additional
support.
Remember
it
is
not
your
responsibility
to
investigate
and
determine
if
a
crime
occurred,
don't
make
decisions
for
your
loved
one.
Certainly
it
can
be
helpful
to
provide
information
about
next
steps
and
resources,
but
is
important.
You
lead
the
decision
making
to
them.
This
is
a
simple
way
for
survivors
to
feel
like
they
are
gaining
some
control
and
power
back
as
they
navigate
their
feelings,
support
the
decisions
they
make.
A
Even
if
you
don't
agree
continue
to
validate
their
feelings
as
they
may
change
throughout
the
healing
process,
it
is
possible.
Survivor
will
go
through
a
rollercoaster
of
different
emotions
that
may
include,
but
not
limited
to
anger,
shame,
laughter,
sadness
or
mix
of
conflicting
emotions.
This
response
to
traumatic
event
is
normal.
Try
not
to
share
what
you
think
you
would
do
in
the
same
situation.
A
Everyone
is
different
and
we
really
don't
know
how
we
would
respond
until
faced
with
a
similar
situation.
It
is
complicated
and
hard
and
we
each
have
our
own
set
of
concerns
and
questions
to
consider
when
making
decisions
talk
through
the
options
with
your
loved
one.
Let
them
know
you
are
there
and
support
their
decisions
and
moving
forward.
Sometimes
because
of
trauma
effects
on
the
brain,
one
may
have
difficulty
remembering
elements
of
their
experience
or
misremember
things
that
happen.
A
This
is
perfectly
normal
and
is
actually
the
brain's
way
of
protecting
someone
during
a
traumatic
experience
over
time
and
with
support
your
loved
one
may
be
able
to
better
share
what
happened.
Don't
rush
them,
don't
ask
them
intrusive
questions
about
their
experience,
don't
assume
because
they
can't
tell
you
they
are
not
telling
the
truth
they
will
share
when
and
if
they
are
ready
to
do
so
for
more
tips
on
how
to
support
your
loved
one.
Please
contact
the
24
hour
sex
assault
hotline
at.