If you have been the victim of sexual violence, you may be feeling shocked, confused, frightened, fragile, angry, numb, or any other emotion. However you are feeling is okay. Try to remember that this is not your fault, you are not to blame, and you are not alone.
Are you Safe?
If a sexual assault has just occurred, you might want to consider whether you feel safe where you are. If you don’t feel immediately at risk, make sure you are somewhere safe and warm as you might be in shock.
If you are able to, phone a friend or someone you trust to come to you.
Emergency help
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If you or others don't feel safe where you are, you should call the Police on 999
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If you need urgent medical care or attention, call an ambulance, or go straight to your nearest Accident and Emergency department
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If you are in LSBU Halls of Residence and you want help, you can contact any member of Halls Staff, or call the 24/7 Security number on 020 7815 6666. You can also use the SafeZone app to contact Security. Please be aware, if you speak to a member of LSBU staff, they will need to report what has happened.
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If you have been raped or sexually assaulted and you want to get a forensic medical examination, you can contact The Havens (they aim to provide this support within 90 minutes). Call them on 0203 299 6900.
Other help
If you want to find out more about your support and reporting options both at LSBU and externally, check out this FAQ: I have experienced sexual violence. Where can I go for advice and support?
Do not feel under any pressure to do or not do anything in particular. It is up to you to choose what kind of support you want to access and whether or not you want to report the assault to the Police or LSBU.
Your feelings
It’s very common for a sexual violence incident to leave you with strong emotions. Some people report that they feel numb or shocked, confused or frightened, or fragile or angry. There is no right or wrong way to feel.
No matter how bad you feel right now, it’s important to remember that you weren’t to blame for what happened.
Take care of yourself
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Talk it over with someone you trust when you feel ready to do so, and remember that getting upset when you talk is okay
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Try to do some of the things in your usual routine. Take care of yourself by eating regular meals and trying to be active – this can lift your mood and help you to sleep
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Avoid drugs and alcohol – these can numb difficult feelings in the short term, but often are disruptive in the long term and can make it harder to process what has happened.
For more information about taking care of yourself:
For more info, see these FAQs:
I have experienced sexual violence. Where can I go for advice and support?
What is sexual assault?
What is sexual violence?
What is sexual harassment?
