How to Help a Friend Who Has Been Date Raped

If your friend has just been raped, she may need your encouragement and support to get through the next few days.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Travel Kits
• Telephone Book
• Telephones
• Duffel Bags

1. Encourage her to seek out a trained professional for counseling. There are many long-term effects of such a traumatic experience, and she will need help sorting them all out.
2. Offer to stay with her. Rape victims are often afraid to be alone after such a frightening ordeal.
3. Accompany her to the hospital if she needs to go.
4. Suggest she call the police and report the incident. Respect her decision if she chooses to keep this to herself. This is a very personal choice and you can't make it for her.
5. Be a good listener.
6. Remember that she is telling you her story. Don't second guess her but accept what she says.
7. Understand that it is not her fault this happened. Many rape victims try to take the blame because they think they could have done something differently.
8. Put your own feelings aside and focus on her needs. You can work through your own emotions later, on your own.

Tips & Warnings

• Victims of rape react in different ways. Understand that your friend could be hysterical, or surprisingly calm.
• Trying to help can do more harm than good if you are not emotionally equipped to deal with their situation. If possible talk to a counselor for advice on how best to support your friend or help your friend find a qualified therapist.