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RISE Blog | How to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault

By: Audrey Hudson & Faith Dolan, Peer Educators
Edited by: Giana Matheny
April 25th, 2025

Content Warning: This blog will discuss topics and scenarios related to sexual assault and trauma. The content may cause distress or be triggering for some readers. Please take care of yourself and seek support if needed.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 out of every 5 women and 1 out of every 16 men experience sexual assault while in college. These numbers are likely higher because 90% of sexual assaults are not reported (n.d). These staggering statistics mean that you have probably met someone who is a survivor of sexual assault. Even if you do not know someone who is a survivor, it is likely that some of the students you see passing through the SUB, working out at the Rec Center, or sitting in your lecture have gone through this experience. When it comes to sexual assault, many students may feel like it is very difficult to think about or discuss. Even more, if a loved one discloses that they are a survivor of sexual assault, it can be difficult to know what to say or do. However, we can make a difference by knowing how to respond to and support someone who has gone through this experience. For survivors, knowing that someone supports them can be significantly beneficial to their healing.

Immediate intervention

Due to the serious nature of sexual assault, it is important that it is taken seriously and that you ensure that the person who discloses their experience is safe, heard, and validated. To hold a safe space for someone who is a survivor of sexual assault, you can make sure to utilize these key principles:

  1. Practice active listening: Even if you are unsure of what to say, you can ask questions and nod your head to let them know that you care about what they're saying. This practice helps to make them feel safe and supported. In addition, try not to change the subject due to your own discomfort. Listen nonjudgmentally and give them time to share (Safe Austin, n.d.).
  2. Believing: This is one of the most important parts when interacting with someone who has made this type of disclosure. Make sure that they know you believe them so they may feel supported by you. This is not the time for skepticism. Demonstrating belief in the person's account fosters trust and encourages open communication, which is essential for their healing process (The Gatehouse, 2025). Remember, you are there to support them, not offer your own opinion. Believe what they describe and respond accordingly
  3. Affirming: This means using empathy as a tool to help them feel supported with their emotions and feelings. Experiencing sexual assault can make someone feel out of touch with themselves, their emotions, and their experiences. Many survivors may also begin to doubt themselves and the validity of their experiences, so make sure to remind them that what happened to them was not their fault and they deserve healing in a way that feels safe for them.
  4. Safety: If they are not in a safe environment, move them to a safe location. If this person is disclosing to you immediately after the event, offer assistance to do what feels safe for them, such as going to a hospital or contacting law enforcement. Remember that it is their decision.
  5. Boundaries: When it comes to difficult conversations, boundaries are essential! Since trauma survivors can be triggered by physical touch, make sure to get clear permission to touch them before you try to comfort them or help them in that way. Respecting personal boundaries, including obtaining consent for physical touch, is crucial in supporting trauma survivors and helps prevent re-traumatization (Discovery Journal, 2024). In addition, make sure to follow their lead for topics of discussion. Don't try to force them to talk about something if they don't feel comfortable doing so.

Although it can be difficult to approach these situations, remember that intervening does not always include knowing exactly what to say; your presence alone is vital and encouraging.

The Nature of Helping

For those who are survivors of sexual assault, it can be difficult to complete their daily routines. While they are handling things like reports, examinations, and physical recovery, it can be hard to do things as simple as like eating or doing homework. Here are some ways to provide support for your loved one during their recovery and offer support in their daily life.

  1. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Often, people feel like asking questions is intrusive. While it is not always helpful to ask about the details of the traumatic experience, almost all survivors tend to feel more supported when someone asks them things like, "Do you feel like you can call a family member?" "Have you fed yourself lately?"  or  "Do you want to be alone or with someone else right now?" Remember, if you are unsure how you can help, ask!
  2. Make sure they know of local and national resources, such as the Lubbock Police Department, hospitals in your area, the Lubbock Crisis Helpline (which offers 24/7/365 support for things like sexual assault, mental health crises, and interpersonal violence), Lubbock's Voice of Hope, Texas Tech's Title IX, the TTU Counseling Center, and the National Sexual Assault Hotline. These resources can feel overwhelming, so offer to help them reach out, browse these websites, or contact a hotline. In addition, remember that these resources are available for you too! If you are unsure about how to help a friend, you can reach out to these organizations for guidance. For more information about these resources and what they do, feel free to scroll to the end of this blog.
  3. Practice privacy. After helping a friend who is a survivor, it is common to feel the need to seek support for yourself. While there is nothing wrong with reaching out to your best friend and saying something like, "Hey, I've recently helped someone who was sexually assaulted. It makes me feel really sad," do not share the name or other personal information of the person you helped. This does not apply if they ask you to help them make a report or if you reach out to a professional organization because you are concerned for their safety or well-being.

While providing support to a survivor of sexual assault can look different for everyone, it is important to make sure that your efforts help ensure safety. Ensuring the person's physical and emotional safety is foundational, as it allows them to feel secure and begin the healing process. (Little Rock Trauma, 2025). Remember, if you are unsure about how to help, don't hesitate to contact a resource or ask your loved one how you can best support them. Above all, it is important to approach any situation with empathy, compassion, and respect.

Continued Support

 Since survivorship involves healing at the emotional, physical, psychological, spiritual, social, academic, and financial levels, most survivors will continue to need support long after the event occurs. If you feel comfortable, don't be afraid to follow up in the following days, weeks, months, or even years depending on your relationship with them. Here are some key ideas to help you provide continued support to someone who is a survivor.

  1. Maintain boundaries: Make sure not to force anyone to share or discuss their experience. Disclosure should always feel safe, comfortable, and helpful. In addition, make sure to take care of yourself, prioritize emotional safety, and understand your limitations for talking about heavy topics. It's okay if you are not able to give as much support as you would like. In these scenarios, you can find resources that can still help them feel supported. Overall, it is important to ensure that both parties are respected and protected emotionally (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014)
  2. Utilize respect: When you reach out, make sure to move at their pace. It may take someone a few days to respond, or they may not want to talk about it all. Give them authority in determining time, place, and a clear opportunity to decline. If they do agree to share more and/or meet with you, ensure you create a safe place where you listen well.
  3. Know that it's okay to not be okay: When meeting with them, keep an eye out for concerning behaviors regarding their mental and physical well-being. Sometimes, survivors may find it hard to take care of themselves or carry out everyday tasks. If they hint that they are unsafe or indicate that they have suicidal thoughts, don't be afraid to voice your concerns and utilize the resources at the end of this blog to help ensure they are safe.  
  4. Remember that resources are there for you too: Many people may feel like support aimed at survivors is exclusively for survivors, but they are also for their loved ones! Don't hesitate to reach out if you feel like you would benefit from receiving support.

Support looks different for everyone, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. When giving support to a survivor, don't forget to be respectful, maintain boundaries, and be direct in your concerns. Regardless of the outcome, make sure to always respect their decisions.

The Power of Connection

Amidst a crisis, it can be difficult to remember this information. But, if you can remember to approach your interaction with respect, curiosity, and empathy, then you can help the survivor feel supported and safe. It can be extremely difficult to see someone you care about experience such a traumatic event but remember that there is power in connection. When you feel overwhelmed, unsure, or stuck, remember that you have the extraordinary power to practice empathy and promote healing for the survivor.

Resources 

References

Cantor, D., Fisher, B. S., Chibnall, S., & Townsend, R. (2014). Report on the AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct. Association of American Universities.

Discovery Journal. (2024). Engaging with trauma: How to best support your partner. Discovery Journal. 

Little Rock Trauma. (2025). Safety and trust: The cornerstones of healing in trauma-informed coaching. Little Rock Trauma. 

National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (n.d.). Statistics on sexual violence. National Sexual Violence Resource Center. 

National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (n.d.). The importance of support: Helping survivors of sexual violence. National Sexual Violence Resource Center. 

Safe Austin. (n.d.). Supporting survivors: A trauma-informed approach. The Safe Austin. 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

 

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