By Paige Setter-Hallwachs, BA, CA, Sexual Assault Services Coordinator

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and Dial Help’s Victim Services Department is working in the community to end the stigma that sexual assault survivors face. It can be tough to talk about, but when we avoid having these discussions, we inadvertently create a community that is dangerous for everyone who might experience sexual assault. Unfortunately, sexual violence is extremely common, even here in the Copper Country.

One important aspect to highlight is the barriers that victims face in reporting the assault. Fear of being blamed is a big reason for not reporting, and sadly, blaming victims for the assault they experience still happens frequently. That’s part of why increasing awareness and understanding in the community is vital. When people are educated on sexual violence, they have the knowledge to respond to survivors without blaming or retraumatizing them. In fact, the response of the first person who the victim tells about the crime can impact whether or not they ever tell anyone else.

Fear of retaliation or not being believed, feeling that no one will understand and fear of being labeled as “damaged” or other negative connotations are also common. There may be distrust of law enforcement or the criminal justice system. Lack of legal information can also make reporting feel overwhelming. For teens specifically, there is often a fear of disclosure leading to police involvement and family chaos. We’d also like teens to know that if someone is pressuring you to have sex, this is a form of sexual violence called “coercion.” You never owe anyone access to your body for any reason, and if you are being pressured for sex, you can reach out to our crisis line for help or visit www.loveisrespect.org for information.

If someone does disclose that they have been sexually assaulted, some easy ways you can be supportive include: don’t ask what they were wearing, whether they were drinking/intoxicated or other questions that place blame on the victim; tell them you are glad they felt safe sharing with you; and help them access resources or other support, if they want to. You can find more information at www.startbybelieving.org.

If you’re interested in participating in SAAM, you can share our social media posts about this topic to help spread education. We are holding our third annual Puppy Parade for Sexual Assault Awareness on April 26, so you can attend with your dog or volunteer behind the scenes. If you’re a business owner, you can help “paint the town teal” by displaying one of our posters about SAAM. Call or text 906- 231-9224 if you’d like more information about any of these options.

To any sexual violence survivors reading this, we want you to know: WE BELIEVE YOU. It wasn’t your fault, and you did not deserve what happened to you. Our trained staff are here to help you with legal information, resources and emotional support, and they can even go to court with you. We have people on call 24/7 for emergency response if you need a forensic medical exam after sexual assault, or someone to go with you to report to the police. If you need help, or want to learn more about services, contact our crisis line by calling 800-562-7622, texting 906-356-3337, or chatting online at www.dialhelp.org/vsu. Our Victim Services Department is funded by MDHHS Division of Victim Services.