Everyone knows a survivor, whether or not they are aware of it. Survivors of sexual assault are more likely to informally disclose to a loved one than file a formal report, with studies suggesting that 54-98% of survivors at some point choose to disclose to someone they know and trust. It is likely that, at some point, everyone will be the person someone else chooses to disclose to.

How a loved one responds to a disclosure can have a profound impact on how the survivor heals and their next steps regarding medical, legal, and/or mental health support. Supportive responses promote healing, while responses that survivors find unsupportive can make it harder for them to cope with their experiences.This can be a lot of pressure, and most people aren’t prepared to perfectly respond or support a survivor. Loved one’s may blame themselves, develop vicarious trauma, and struggle with their own emotions or setting boundaries.

Survivors.org Community

Those who are close to survivors and stand alongside them on their healing journey are essential, but they deserve support too. It can be incredibly difficult to know how to be there for a loved one after they’ve experienced sexual assault. This community aims to bring loved ones and supporters of survivors together to fill these gaps.