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 Support and Advocacy 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 a member of the Student Support and Advocacy team for support and understanding what their reporting options are. Visit the resources page for a list of available on campus and community support services.