At some point in our lives, many of us will discover that someone we care about has been deeply hurt by violence. Victims/survivors often feel very alone and isolated from help, understanding, and support. Every survivor deserves support, options, resources, and safety.
As a friend, you can help and you can make a difference.
If You Find Out a Friend is a Victim…
First, take a deep breath…
Talking to a victim of violence is hard and you may be unsure of what you can do or say. Before you do anything, take some time to think about it.
Believe your friend.
It often takes a lot of courage for a victim/survivor to tell anyone about what happened. Most people don't like to talk about being assaulted or abused.
Then tell her/him that …
Take care of yourself
Helping a friend with these difficult issues can be stressful, always remember to take care of yourself. You can't help your friend if you don't take care of yourself.
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