Is it going to make them feel worse than they already do?
I think my go to reaction [if my friend was sexually assaulted] would be [laughing] "Go and say something!" But um I would ask myself [...] the kind of psychological state that person was in [...] while they are telling me. Would they be this comfortable going and telling someone else - not reporting, but to tell to the school - before I tell them to go and do this first? I would first try and see, okay, what state are they in? Is it going to just put more anxiety? Is it going to make them feel worse than they already do right now? I'd try and say, "Okay, can I get them out of this state?" And say - "Okay, I know you may not want to say anything now, but if it's really bothering you..." I would try and convince them to tell the school how they are feeling, so I am not pushing them - so I am not making them more anxious about the whole situation, or making things worse by trying to convince them.
Recommendations
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Use approaches that are trauma informed and survivor-centred.
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Emphasize the victim's right to decide whether they would like to report the incident after they have disclosed it to the university. Ensure the victim is aware of the formal and informal routes for reporting, including the option of reporting to the police. Clearly communicate any limits to confidentiality.