It’s hard to know what to do, how to feel, or what your options are after a sexual assault.

Please know that you’re not alone.

Below are some things to keep in mind. If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured, call 911.

  1. Your safety is important. Are you in a safe place? If you’re not feeling safe, consider reaching out to someone you trust for support. You don’t have to go through this alone.
  2. What happened was not your fault. Something happened to you that you didn’t want to happen—and that’s not OK.
  3. Call First Step’s 24-hour helpline at 734-722-6800. You’ll be connected to a trained staff member who will direct you to the appropriate local health facility that can care for survivors of sexual assault. First Step may also be able to send a trained advocate to accompany you.

When you call First Step, a staff member will walk you through the process of getting help at your own pace. First Step provides free and confidential counseling and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence.  

You can also visit online.rainn.org to chat anonymously. Support specialists at First Step and RAINN can also provide information on topics you might have questions about, including: