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How to Find Reliable Support After Sexual Assault

Find local support after sexual assault in the United States or United Kingdom, understand confidentiality limits, and choose the help that feels right for you.
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If you or someone you care about has experienced sexual assault, support is available whether or not you choose to report to police or seek medical care. In the United States, use the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) directory for local services or contact RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline. In the United Kingdom, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) may be a route to crisis and medical support. What is available—and what is confidential—depends on the service and location.

Find a support service where you are

United States

Start with the NSVRC Find Help directory, which lists state and territory coalitions and links to local sexual-assault programs. A local center may offer advocacy, accompaniment at medical exams or law-enforcement interviews, education, follow-up, and referrals; services vary by location. NSVRC also directs people to a directory of local programs.

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For immediate support, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free support by phone, online chat, or text. RAINN lists 800-656-HOPE (4673) and text HOPE to 64673; check RAINN’s support page for current contact options. RAINN says it can provide referrals to longer-term local support and information about state laws.

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United Kingdom

The UK government’s guide to Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) points to local centres. Depending on the centre and circumstances, services may include crisis care, medical and forensic examinations, emergency contraception, and STI testing. Use the official NHS SARC finder or the government guide to locate current local contact details.

Other countries

The services above are specific to the United States and United Kingdom, not worldwide hotlines. Elsewhere, look for an official health service or victim-support organization in your country, or ask a trusted local health professional to help identify one.

Choose what kind of help you want

You can seek support without deciding whether to report to police. Reporting, medical care, and support services are separate choices; a police report should not be treated as a prerequisite for contacting an advocate. A local advocate can explain the options and rules where the assault occurred.

Support can mean different things. A crisis hotline can listen and explain options; a local advocate may help navigate services or accompany you to an appointment; a SARC may provide crisis and medical services; and a center may refer you to counseling or legal resources. You do not have to share details you are not ready to discuss in order to ask what help is available.

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Ask about confidentiality before sharing identifying details

Confidentiality rules differ among services and jurisdictions. NSVRC notes that rights and options can depend on state, territory, or tribal law, and that mandated reporting may apply in some circumstances. NSVRC does not provide legal advice. If privacy is a concern, you can first ask a local service what it keeps private and what it may have to report.

RAINN says callers to its hotline can remain anonymous and that it does not ask for personal identifying information. RAINN also explains specific exceptions: if a caller voluntarily gives their name and location and is under 18 or a vulnerable adult, it says it is required to report in the caller’s state; it may also report if it believes someone is considering suicide. These are RAINN’s stated hotline conditions, not a description of every local provider’s rules. See RAINN’s explanation of what to expect and ask any other service directly about its limits.

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Compare services using practical questions

If more than one option is available, these questions can help you decide which feels right. You can ask without committing to an appointment or sharing your story.

  • Location and eligibility: Does the service cover your area, and who can use it?
  • Contact and hours: Can you call, text, or chat? When is someone available?
  • Privacy: Can you contact them anonymously? What information do they record, and are there reporting exceptions?
  • Services: Do they provide advocacy, accompaniment, follow-up, or referrals for medical care, counseling, or legal information?
  • Access and fit: Can they meet your language, disability-access, or identity-specific needs?
  • Your pace: Will they explain options without pressuring you to report, seek treatment, or disclose more than you want?

Availability and policies can change locally, so confirm details with the provider. RAINN describes its own approach this way: “Our team is trained to respond with empathy and respect, to validate survivors’ experiences, and to offer information and options without pressure or judgment.” This is RAINN’s statement about its service, not an independent rating of every provider.

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