Despite all you do to reduce the risk of sexual assaults, they may still happen. If you are sexually assaulted, take the best possible care of yourself by doing the following:

Consider telling someone you trust so that you feel less alone. You can call a sexual assault/rape crisis centre even if you don’t want to report the assault to the police. A friend or trained crisis worker can provide the confidential advice and support you deserve.

If the assault has recently occurred, take care of your immediate medical needs. You may need to be checked for injuries, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Look on the Ontario Women’s Directorate website or in your local phone book for the nearest Sexual Assault Treatment Centre, where there are nurses and doctors specially trained in responding to sexual assault. They will tell you about the Sexual Assault Evidence Kit and talk to you about your options. Ideally, you should go to the hospital within 72 hours after the assault in case you want the doctors to collect physical evidence which could be used in court if you report the assault to the police.

Believe in yourself. What happened to you was wrong. No matter what the situation – no matter what you were doing or wearing, whether you had been drinking or taking drugs, or where you were when the assault took place – you are not to blame.

Seek support. Consider going to counselling. Sometimes talking about your experience can be the most important step in healing.

Give yourself time to heal. Remember that recovery from sexual assault is different for everyone.