Sexual Abuse and Assault Crisis Support Worldwide

Safe, confidential crisis support

Sexual Abuse & Assault Crisis Support – Worldwide

This page is for people who have experienced sexual abuse, sexual assault, unwanted sexual contact, coercion, exploitation, harassment, online sexual harm, or fear around sexual safety.

What happened was not your fault. You deserve support that is safe, confidential, respectful, trauma-informed, and led by your choices wherever possible.

If you are in immediate danger

If you are unsafe now, being threatened, injured, at risk of further harm, or feel unable to stay safe, contact emergency services now or move toward a safer place if you can.

New Zealand: 111
Australia: 000
United States / Canada: 911
UK / Europe: 999, 112, or your local emergency number

Gentle content notice

This page discusses sexual abuse, sexual assault, trauma, safety, medical support, reporting choices, emotional crisis, and urgent help. Please read slowly and pause whenever you need to.

You are believed here

Sexual harm can happen to anyone. You do not need to prove your pain to deserve support. You can ask for help even if you feel confused, numb, ashamed, frozen, angry, or unsure what to do.

You can choose your next step

You may want crisis support, medical care, advocacy, counselling, reporting information, safety planning, or simply someone safe to sit with you. Your choices matter.

Quick safety steps for right now

Choose the safest step for this moment. You do not need to make every decision right now.

Move toward safety

If possible, move away from the person or place causing harm. Go to a trusted person, public place, neighbour, hospital, police station, or safe service.

Contact support

Call, text, chat, or ask someone trusted to contact a sexual harm service, crisis line, emergency service, or medical provider with you.

Medical help can matter

If the assault was recent, medical care can support injuries, pregnancy/STI concerns, emergency contraception, forensic options, and emotional safety.

One gentle next step

Get to somewhere safer if you can.
Contact one trusted person or crisis service.
If you are injured or worried medically, seek urgent medical care.
If you want evidence preserved, try not to wash/change clothes until you get specialist advice — only if this feels safe and possible.
You are allowed to ask what your options are without deciding everything now.

What support may include

Support after sexual abuse or assault can look different depending on what happened, where you are, your age, your safety, and what choices feel right for you.

Support type	What it may help with	Helpful note
Crisis support	Immediate emotional support, grounding, safety planning, and deciding the next safest step.	You can use phone, text, webchat, or a trusted support person where available.
Medical care	Injuries, pregnancy/STI worries, emergency contraception, forensic options, and urgent health needs.	You can ask for a support person, interpreter, disability access, or trauma-informed care.
Advocacy	Understanding choices, reporting options, safety planning, appointments, and practical help.	Advocates can often support you even if you do not report to police.
Therapy / counselling	Trauma recovery, flashbacks, shame, fear, body memories, relationships, and ongoing emotional support.	You deserve support from someone safe, respectful, and trained in trauma.

If this happened to you

If you have experienced sexual harm, your body and mind may respond in many ways. Freezing, going numb, not fighting back, not remembering clearly, or feeling confused are common trauma responses.

Things you can do now

Go somewhere safer if possible.
Tell one safe person what you need right now.
Contact a sexual harm helpline or crisis support service.
Seek medical support if there may be injury, pregnancy/STI risk, or recent assault.
Use emergency services if you are unsafe now.

Copy-and-send message

“Something sexual happened that I did not want. I don’t feel okay and I need support. Can you stay with me or help me contact a sexual harm/crisis service?”

If someone tells you they were sexually abused or assaulted

How you respond matters. Believe them, stay calm, and let them have choices wherever possible.

What can help

Say: “I believe you.”
Say: “It was not your fault.”
Ask what they need right now.
Offer to stay with them or contact support together.
Respect their choices unless there is immediate safety risk or mandatory safeguarding applies.

What to avoid

Do not blame, question, shame, or minimise.
Do not demand details.
Do not force reporting if they are not ready, unless urgent safeguarding requires action.
Do not touch them without asking.
Do not share their story without consent unless safety law requires it.

Helpful phrase

“I believe you. I’m sorry this happened. You are not to blame. We can go at your pace and find support together.”

Worldwide sexual abuse & assault support contacts

Contact options can change, so check official service pages where possible. If there is immediate danger, use your local emergency number first.

New Zealand / Aotearoa

Emergency: 111
Safe to Talk: 0800 044 334, text 4334, webchat and email support for sexual harm
1737: free call or text 1737 any time for counselling support
Victim Support: 0800 842 846

Australia

Emergency: 000
1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 for sexual assault, domestic and family violence support
Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380 for trauma and abuse support

United States

Emergency: 911
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800 656 HOPE / 800 656 4673
988 Lifeline: call, text, or chat 988 for emotional distress and crisis support

Canada

Emergency: 911
9-8-8 Canada: call or text 9-8-8 for suicide crisis support
Local support: use provincial sexual assault centres, crisis lines, victim services, or emergency departments

United Kingdom

Emergency: 999 or 112
Rape Crisis England & Wales: 24/7 support line and online chat
Samaritans: 116 123
NHS urgent support: NHS 111 or local Sexual Assault Referral Centre pathways

Ireland

Emergency: 112 or 999
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: national 24-hour helpline where available
Samaritans: 116 123
Local support: use sexual violence services, GP/doctor, emergency department, or crisis pathways

Europe

Emergency: 112 in many European countries
Local support: search for sexual assault, rape crisis, victim support, emergency medical, or domestic violence services in your country
Language access: ask for interpreter or translated support where available

International / worldwide

Find a Helpline: search by country and topic, including sexual abuse, domestic violence, trauma, self-harm, and suicide prevention
Befrienders Worldwide: emotional support and suicide prevention directory

Open location support

If you are unsure what to use

Choose the safest urgent option: emergency services for immediate danger, sexual assault crisis support for specialist help, medical care for health needs, or text/chat if speaking feels too hard.

Accessible and trauma-informed support options

Sexual harm can make speaking, remembering, decision-making, movement, trust, touch, or eye contact harder. Support should adapt wherever possible.

Text or chat support

Text and webchat can be easier when talking feels impossible, unsafe, or overwhelming.

Open text/chat support

Communication access

For AAC, typing, writing, yes/no answers, non-speaking support, and extra processing time.

Open communication access

Trauma-informed support

For trauma responses, flashbacks, dissociation, shutdown, sensory overwhelm, or needing choice-based support.

Open trauma support

Where to go next

These pages can help connect this topic into the wider crisis support structure.

Crisis Support by Topic

Return to the main topic doorway for different types of crisis support.

Open topic support

Abuse & Domestic Violence Support

For unsafe homes, coercive control, family violence, or relationship abuse support.

Open abuse support

Trauma, PTSD & Flashbacks

For trauma responses, flashbacks, dissociation, panic, or feeling unsafe after triggers.

Open trauma support

Suicide & Self-Harm Crisis Support

For suicidal thoughts, self-harm urges, or feeling unable to stay safe.

Open suicide/self-harm support

Text & Chat Crisis Support

For lower-pressure non-phone crisis support options.

Open text/chat support

Crisis Support by Location

Find emergency and crisis support by country or region.

Open location support

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