April Awareness: Understanding and Preventing Sexual Assault

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM), a time to educate ourselves about the prevalence of sexual violence and how we can prevent it. Survivors often experience lasting emotional and psychological effects, including PTSD, anxiety, and difficulties with trust and relationships.

Many survivors share that beyond the impact of the trauma they’ve experienced, the way they were treated when they sought out help was even more devastating. We want to offer some simple, yet powerful, ways to support survivors and also promote prevention in our community.

Believe and support survivors. Offer a safe, non-judgmental space to share their experiences.

Don’t minimize their experience. When survivors first tell, they can often experience another layer of trauma from the way people respond, by rationalizing or downplaying the experience. Whatever the experience, it took a lot of courage to say it aloud.

Offer support without pressure. Everyone’s healing journey is individual. There is no timeline. Offer support, encourage self-care, connect them with therapy or other resources, but remember, their healing will be in their own timing.

Educate yourself and others. Understanding consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships can help prevent future harm.

Know the resources. National hotlines like RAINN (800-656-4673) provide support for survivors 24/7.

Advocate for policy change. Support organizations and laws that protect survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.

Healing from trauma is a journey, and no one should walk it alone. If you or someone you know is struggling, we would love to help connect you to the right resources.

So you may be wondering what DO i say?

Don’t say: “Why didn’t you fight back?”Instead, you can say: “Survivors respond to trauma in different ways—fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. There is no ‘right’ way to react.”

Don’t say: “It happened so long ago. Get over it. Just move on.”Instead, you can say: “Healing doesn’t have a timeline. Trauma impacts the brain and body, and recovery is unique to each person.”

Don’t say: “Are you sure that really happened?”Doubting someone’s experience can be deeply damaging!

Instead, say: ‘I believe you, and I’m here for you.’”

Supporting survivors starts with how we speak. Let’s be a safe space. It’s important to remember that words matter. Survivors of sexual assault and abuse need compassion, not judgment. If someone trusts you with their story, honor that trust.

Every act of kindness counts. Together we can create a world free from sexual violence. Your voice and actions matters.