As uncomfortable as you may be, if you
can avoid doing any of these things, you will preserve
evidence that can help convict the person who raped
you. If you have already washed up, don't worry- but
don't wash any more. If you have taken off the clothes
you were wearing when you were assaulted, put them in
a clean shopping bag and take them with you to the
hospital.
Go directly to the hospital emergency
room. If you have already called Vera House, a
counselor will meet you there. If not, ask the
hospital to call Vera House for you. We will be there
as soon as possible.
At the hospital, a nurse will offer to
call the police for you. This is your choice. The
police will not be called automatically, either by the
hospital or by Vera House staff. This is to protect
your privacy. There are some circumstances in which
hospital staff are required to notify the police: if a
gun or knife was used or if there is reason to suspect
child sexual abuse. How much or little you choose to
tell the police in these cases is still your choice;
the intent is to protect you or someone else from
further harm in these grave situations.
In the days, months and years after the
sexual assault, you may feel a wide variety of
feelings: fear - anger - betrayal - humiliation -
preoccupation with pregnancy, disease or death -
anxiety - depression - and many others. Your feelings
may depend to some degree on the circumstances of the
assault, such as whether or not the attacker was
someone you knew, such as an acquaintance, date or
friend.
You might feel OK for a while and
then have difficult feelings later on, even years
later, triggered by some other event or reminder. No
matter what you feel, or when, remember that help is
available at Vera House.
How
Vera House helps . . .
◊
Hotline
The
hotline provides 24-hour telephone support for people
who have been sexually abused, sexually assaulted or
raped, recently or at any time in the past, and for
family members in need of support. The Vera House
staff and volunteers are available to talk any time
about a recent assault or something that happened
years ago. The hotline can be the first point of
contact with a Vera House Victim Advocate. Call
#315.422.7273 at any time, or our TTY crisis line
during regular business hours - #315.484.7263.
◊
Crisis Intervention
Victim Advocates
provides 24-hour support at Onondaga County
hospitals or police stations. An Advocate will meet
victims of sexual abuse, sexual assault or rape at
the hospital or police station and help them get
through the medical examination and,
if the victim
chooses to report the assault to the police, the
reporting process. Although we recommend reporting
assaults
to law enforcement, the decision is yours.
◊
Medical Attention
A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
(SANE) will meet victims of recent sexual assault or
rape at the emergency room at University Hospital in
Syracuse. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners are RNs
with specialized training. They perform medical
examinations, collect forensic evidence and test for
pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted
infections. They provide emergency contraception
(EC) to prevent pregnancy and medications
to prevent
HIV and AIDS. SANE Nurses are caring and compassionate.
◊
Counseling
Vera House Counselors provide
individual, group and family counseling for
survivors of sexual abuse, sexual assault or rape,
as well as for family members in need of support.
Counseling is available for female and male victims
of all ages, whether they need help immediately
after the abuse or assault or many years later.
Specialized individual, family and group counseling
services to meet the unique needs of youth affected
by sexual abuse and/or domestic violence is also
offered.
