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

Thoughts lead to words, and words lead to actions

To understand somebody [who has experienced sexual assault] and to be able to communicate with someone, you have to choose your words carefully. You have to choose your thoughts, cause thoughts leads to words, and words lead to actions. […] So, if you start thinking “Okay, where were you?” And I tell you I was with two guys, then you are not intentionally, but unintentionally - because society made us like that - you’re going to say “Okay, maybe she was looking for it.”

Recommendations

  • Use approaches that are trauma informed and survivor-centred.

  • 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.