SafePlace Sexual Assault Brochure (English)

SafePlace offers these free andconfidential services to people whohave experienced all forms ofsexual assault and abuse:• A safe place to stay• Tuesday and Wednesday drop in center 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm to connect you withresources that can help, someone to helpyou plan for your safety and process yourfeelings• 24-hour/7 days a week help line to connectyou with resources that can help, someoneto help you plan for your safety and processyour feelings• Someone to go with you to court if you needa Protection Order or help you make a policereport• Someone to connect you with an attorney forfree legal advice• Someone to go with you to the hospital ifyou have been sexually assaulted• A safe space to process your feelings andconnect with others who have had similarexperiences• Free cell phones to call 911• Gift cards for food and other necessities*• Help to pay rent *• We have people who speak Cambodian andSpanish. We provide interpreters for otherlanguages and ASLCall 360.754.6300 (voice)360.943.6703 (TTY)*Not all financial resources are available atall times. *SAFEPLACE MISSIONWe strive to stop sexual anddomestic violence and advocate forpersonal and societal change throughcrisis intervention and education.SafePlace provides services for survivors ofsexual assault regardless of age, ethnicity,nationality, race, gender, sexuality, class,religion, veteran status, the presence of aphysical, sensory or mental disability, maritalstatus or pregnancy status.24 hour Crisis Line:360 754-6300TTY 360 943-6703Business Office:314 Legion Way SEOlympia, WA 98501Phone: 360 786-8754Business TTY: 360 753-8700Website: www.safeplaceolympia.orgEmail: safeplace@safeplaceolympia.orgJuly 2008 Z:\BrochuresTake time forhealingFind supportYourfeelingsarenormalHealing FromSexual AssaultInformation about SexualAssault and SafePlace

What is sexual assault?Sexual assault is any sexual act forcedupon an individual against their will.Sexual assault is one of the mostunderreported crimes in this country.Estimates are that one in four womenand one in seven men will experiencesome form of sexual assault in theirlifetime.Why did this happen to me?No one deserves or asks to be raped orassaulted. It is normal to ask yourself ifyou could have avoided the assault. Nomatter how it happened, it is not yourfault. Blame for the assault belongs onlyto the person(s) who assaulted you.What are some effects?There are many ways sexual assault canaffect you. Some examples of what youmight feel include:• Denial• Flashbacks of the event• Being easily startled• Having memory gaps ofthe assault• Unable to makedecisions• Crying suddenly“In thebeginning,I was inshock.”• Feeling out of control, helpless, crazy,overwhelmed• Experiencing physical reactions likesweating and tremors, allergies,headaches, upset stomach• Having trouble breathing, working orsleeping (including nightmares)• Difficulty with intimacy/closeness ofall types• Anger, resentment, and feelings ofdistrust, shameAll of these experiences arenormal reactions to sexualassault. Some may be shortterm reactions, and othersmay stay with you for sometime.What can I do about it?“Later, Iwasconfused,afraid andangry.”Washington State has sexual assaultprotection orders which can providesurvivors protection from their assailant,such as requiring the offender to stayaway from you, places you work and/orplaces you frequent. A SafePlace advocatecan offer you more information about thisorder. Call 754-6300.If you were assaulted inthe last 96 hours (4days), you can contactSt. Peter Hospital SexualAssault Clinic or you cango to St. Peter Hospitalemergency room to havea sexual assault exam. This exam collectsforensic evidence from the assault shouldyou choose to file charges. Having thisexam does not mean you must filecharges. There is no fee and no medicalinsurance required for the exam.SafePlace has advocates available tosupport you during this exam. Call 360754-6300 or go to St. Peter Hospitalemergency room to receive the service.You may also consider contacting othercommunity agencies that can offerservices such as confidential HIV testingand emergency contraception. SafePlacecan offer referral information to otheragencies. Call 360 754-6300 for moreinformation.What else should I know?It is important to take care of yourself andfocus on healing . A few examples of waysyou can do this include:• Exercise - take walks• Talk to friends, family, a counselor oran advocate• Keep a journal, be aware of yourthoughts and emotions• Structure your time, make dailydecisions which give you some feelingof control• Give yourself permission to feel rotten.Some days will be better than others,and what you are feeling is normal“I knew itwasn’t myfault, butI felt likeit was.”1. It’s not your fault.Frequent use of alcohol/drugscan complicate the situation.If you are finding it hard tocope with what happened toyou, don’t be afraid to seekhelp.5 things you can say to support asurvivor of sexual assault...2. I am worried for your physical andemotional safety.3. You can get medical attention withouthaving to report to the police.4. There are confidential places to call forhelp and support.5. You can determine what kind of helpyou need and when.