Counselling Services - Sexual Assault Crisis Program

Victims and Assailants | Response to Sexual Assault| What To Do | Getting Help

For immediate crisis intervention Call:

Sexual Assault Crisis Line
In Winnipeg 786-8631 24 hours daily
Toll Free in Manitoba 1-888-292-7565
TTY 784-4097

For in person counselling call Sexual Assault Intake 784-4049

Sexual Assault

What is Sexual Assault?

  • an act of violence or aggression involving a sexual attack either verbal, emotional or physical.
  • unwelcome sexual comments, harassment or threats that make you feel uncomfortable, violated or under attack.
  • touching in a sexual way without permission.
  • forced kissing or fondling.
  • forced oral, anal or vaginal intercourse (rape).

Without consent, it is Sexual Assault.

Who commits Sexual Assault?

  • only 1 of 3 assailants is a stranger to the victim.
  • 2 of 3 assailants are known to the victim: co-workers, partners, spouses, neighbors, relatives or friends.
  • at least 95% of assailants are men.

Victims and Assailants

Who are the victims of sexual assault?

  • 90% of victims are female.
  • 10% of victims are male.
  • In Winnipeg 1 in 17 women experiences forced intercourse in her lifetime and 1 in 5 suffers another form of sexual assault.
  • Victims range in age from 6 months to 90 years and come from all walks of life.

Who is responsible?

  • The assailant is 100% responsible for a sexual assault.
  • Myths and misconceptions often cause the victim to feel responsible for the attack.

Remember : a sexual assault victim is a survivor of a violent crime. The victim's clothing, behaviour, attitudes or whereabouts at the time of the assault cannot alter the fact that the assailant, not the victim, is to blame

Assailants are responsible for sexual assault.

As a victim...

You have done nothing wrong

You are not blame

It is not your fault

Response to Sexual Assault

How will I feel? All victims suffer trauma in varying degrees. It depends on the circumstances: your support system of friends and family, the reaction of people you encounter after the assault, and your life experiences prior to the assault. You may feel shock and disbelief:

"I felt numb all over, I was in a daze: it was like the whole thing had happened to someone else. I kept wondering, did it really happen to me?"

You may feel anger:  

"I was enraged. I wanted to kill him."

You may feel fear: 

"The terror was paralyzing. I was scared that he would kill me. I was too scared to fight. And I didn't know if I could run."

You may feel guilt and self-blame: 

"I kept going over the whole thing again and again. I kept wondering what I had done to deserve this. Why didn't I just stay at home?"

You may feel shame: 

"What would people think of me? I felt everybody could tell what happened by looking at me."

You may feel out of control: 

"I couldn't do anything. I cried all the time. Sometimes it felt like I would never stop crying."

You may feel suicidal: 

"I felt used and worthless. I might as well be dead."

All these feelings are normal and temporary. 
You can heal from a sexual assault!

What to do

Should I seek medical help?

Yes, even if you do not leave any apparent injuries. Your medical care should include an assessment of injuries, both external and internal, tests for sexually transmitted diseases, and possibly for pregnancy. You may consider the "Morning After Pill" to prevent pregnancy resulting from a sexual assault.

You can receive medical attention at a variety of places: your own doctor, a hospital, a walk-in clinic or at Klinic Community Health Center's medical program.

Should I report to the police?

You need to decide this for yourself. Consider what feels best for you - what decision meets your needs - not anyone else's.

Remember: you are not responsible for the assailant's behaviour. Neither are you responsible for punishing the assailant nor for any of his/ her subsequent behaviour.

What if I decide to report?

  • preserve any evidence you can. Do not wash, bathe, douche, change or destroy your clothes. Do not alter the area where the assault occurred.
  • call the police immediately.
  • you will be taken to a hospital and given an examination by a specially trained medical team.
  • You will leave to give a detailed statement about the assault to the police and be available for other aspects of the police investigation (identifying the crime scene or the assailant).
  • a Klinic counsellor/advocate will come to the hospital to be with you throughout the process.
  • once a suspect is charged with the sexual assault you must appear as a witness at the preliminary hearing to decide if there is enough evidence for trial.

Remember: you are not an trial, even though you may feel like it. You are a witness to a violent crime. Charges may be dismissed at any time. This does not mean the suspect is not guilty: it means there is not enough evidence.

Getting Help

How can the Sexual Assault Crisis Program help me?

  • by offering crisis intervention counselling by phone 24 hours a day.
  • by providing short-term in person counselling to recent or past victims of sexual assault and to their families, friends and supporters.
  • by having trained volunteer counsellors.
    • meet victims at hospital to give support and advocacy throughout the process of reporting the sexual assault;
    • assist in obtaining medical, legal, and social services: and
    • provide assistance and information regarding criminal injuries compensation.
  • by offering information and resource material on police and legal procedures and emergency needs of sexual assault victims to any interested groups.

Counselling

Will counselling help?

Yes. Sharing your feelings about your sexual assault is extremely important. Counselling can help you regain control of your emotional life by reaffirming your own strength and self-worth. You deserve and may need the support of a skilled counsellor who will help you heal the damage caused by a sexual assault.

Copyright @ Klinic Community Health Centre.
870 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg Manitoba R3G 0P1
Phone: (204) 784-4090 admin. Fax 772-7998 medical Fax 784-4013
E-mail: klinic@klinic.mb.ca