What should I do?
A person may choose to confide in someone they trust about an act of sexual and/or gender-based violence, such as a friend, instructor, or coach. An individual who has experienced these types of violence may also disclose to staff when seeking support and/or academic accommodation. A supportive response involves:
- listening without judgement and accepting the disclosure as true;
- communicating that sexual and/or gender-based violence is never the responsibility of the survivor;
- helping the individual identify and/or access available on- or off-campus services, including emergency medical care and counselling;
- respecting the individual’s right to choose the services they feel are most appropriate and to decide whether to report to the Police and/or the Student Rights & Responsibilities Office;
- recognizing that disclosing can be traumatic and an individual’s ability to recall the events may be limited;
- respecting the individual’s choices as to what and how much is disclosed about the experience, and;
- making every effort to respect confidentiality and anonymity.
Refer them to appropriate services who can offer support. Let them know there are options on-campus and in the community, including speaking with the Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Coordinator for support and understanding what their reporting options are. Visit resources for a list services available.