For crisis intervention or mental distress: Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line:
1-888-429-8167

For Confidential support to post-secondary students in Nova Scotia:
Good2Talk: 1-833-292-3698
or text GOOD2TALKNS to 686868

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program for the Halifax area:
902-425-0122

Get toll-free numbers for other Nova Scotia regions

 

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African Female

It is confidential and it is not your fault

I think the two important points that are very, very neccessary when dealing with people from my culture is, they [service providers responding to sexual violence] just need to reassure people that what they are saying and what is going on - the whole process - is confidential. [...] It won't go outside that discussion - outside that room. It is very, very confidential. Just like what Participant Two said, try to make it so clear, [...] that nomatter what you wear, nomatter what location you were in, it is not your fault. It is the fault of the person who carried out those actions. No matter what you are wearing, no matter where you were, it is not your fault. So, I think those are the two points that need to be stated clearly to someone from my region: that it is confidential and it is not your fault.

Recommendations

  • Use an app or other tool that allows students to anonymously ask questions about sexual violence and university policies against sexual violence.

  • Ensure all sexual violence prevention and response education and training opportunities actively deconstruct victim-blaming, rape myths and gender norms. Ensure these sessions take an intersectional approach to understanding sexual violence and supporting victim/survivors.

  • In the policy itself and in materials and presentations promoting the policy, define "confidential" and "anonymous," and explain how these concepts pertain to the policy, university-based sexual assault services, and the limits on confidentiality and anonymity.