{
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    "slug": "supporting-a-friend-who-has-been-sexually-assaulted",
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        "rendered": "Supporting a friend who has been sexually assaulted"
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        "rendered": "<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2653\" class=\"elementor elementor-2653\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ce79ebb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ce79ebb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-65c29dc\" data-id=\"65c29dc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afb2481 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"afb2481\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 15-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be very difficult when someone close to you tells you they\u2019ve been sexually assaulted. You may feel confused about what to say and how best to support them. Remember that every person\u2019s recovery from <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sexual assault<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will look different. Ask your friend what they feel they need, and make sure to respect their decisions.<\/span><\/p><p>Here are six tips on what to do when a friend discloses they\u2019ve been sexually assaulted.<\/p><h4><b>1. Make sure your friend is safe<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check that your friend isn\u2019t in any kind of immediate danger, especially if they\u2019ve come to you for help shortly after the assault. They may need you to call the police or an ambulance.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, though, the sexual assault will have happened weeks, months, or even years before. In any case, you want to start by checking in with them. Ask questions like: \u2018Are you okay? Are you safe?\u2019.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re worried your friend may be suicidal or at risk, there are <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">services you can call to keep them safe<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><h4><b>2. Thank them for trusting you<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It takes a lot of courage to talk about a sexual assault.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ellie Freedman, Medical Director at Northern Sydney Sexual Assault Services, says: \u2018If someone tells you they have been sexually assaulted, it means they have judged that they feel safe enough in your relationship to share that with you. As human beings, we all want to rush in and solve things. But you want to acknowledge that it was a big thing for the other person to tell and that you are pleased they were able to tell you.\u2019.<\/span><\/p><h4><b>3. Tell your friend that you believe them<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important that your friend knows you believe them. It\u2019s also important to avoid doing or saying anything that suggests you think the sexual assault was their fault.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saying things like, \u2018Oh, but you were really drunk that night\u2019, or asking probing questions like, \u2018Why were you alone with them?\u2019 can make it sound like you\u2019re blaming your friend for what happened.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If they blame themself, reassure them it wasn\u2019t their fault, no matter what they were wearing, or if they\u2019d been drinking or were flirting. Remember: anything less than an enthusiastic and ongoing \u2018yes\u2019 doesn\u2019t equal <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sexual consent<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><h4><b>4. Encourage your friend to get support \u2026<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s okay to admit that you don\u2019t know what to do next. You may want to take some time to research the options.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a lot of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/au.reachout.com\/articles\/sexual-assault-support\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resources available for sexual assault survivors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including free phone and in-person counselling. You can also visit a GP or your local hospital, who can connect you with the right people.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your friend may also need either immediate medical attention or a health check-up. If they\u2019re unsure about whether to report the sexual assault to the police, you could suggest that discussing it with a counsellor would help with the decision.<\/span><\/p><h4><b>5. \u2026 but let them decide the next steps<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most important thing is to make sure your friend makes any decisions about what to do next, even if it goes against what you think is right. Ask them how they want to proceed and how you can best support them.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ellie Freedman explains: \u2018Sexual assault is something that\u2019s been done against someone without their consent, so what we want to do is try to give them back as much control as possible. Often, people feel like they need to give advice and will say things like \u201cYou have to go to the police\u201d or \u201cYou have to go to the hospital\u201d.\u2019<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Give your friend options. Saying things like \u2018<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Would you like<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to go to the police?\u2019 or \u2018<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Would you like<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to go to the hospital?\u2019 gives them control over making decisions for themself.<\/span><\/p><h4><b>6. Look after yourself<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be really hard \u2013 or even triggering \u2013 to see someone you care about deal with the impacts of sexual assault or abuse. You might feel anxious, overwhelmed or angry. Speak to someone you trust, such as a family member or a counsellor, or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/au.reachout.com\/articles\/support-services-for-depression-and-anxiety\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reach out to a support service<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. And take the time to practise self-care and to do things that make you happy.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>",
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