Hi Auntie, I was raped 6 months ago and I am 22 years old and I don’t want to report because at the time it was my boyfriend at the time, but we broke up and I want to tell my counselor, but I don’t want to report
Dear relative,
I am so sorry to hear you were raped by someone you trusted. It takes a lot of courage to come forward, ask for help and to seek counseling. I am so glad to that you have a counselor that you trust to share this experience with and I hope they can help you process this experience.
After sexual assault, it’s hard to know how to react. You may be physically hurt, emotionally drained, or unsure what to do next. You may be considering working with the criminal justice system, but are unsure of where to start. Learning more about what steps you can take following sexual violence can help ground you in a difficult time. Working with a counselor can help you deal with some of the challenges you may be facing and help you decide what steps to take.
It is very common for people who have been sexually assaulted to not want to report this to law enforcement, especially if they have or had a relationship with the person who assaulted them. As a survivor, I encourage you to do what you need to do to take care of yourself. You may later find that you will want to report this to law enforcement, and that is okay too. The priority should be about what you need to do to feel safe. Justice can mean different things to different people, and reporting a crime to law enforcement is an individual decision.
There are many ways to report sexual assault, other than calling the law enforcement. You can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at https://www.rainn.org/ or call 800-656-HOPE (4673). They have a lot of resources on safety and prevention and well as people you can talk to about finding other resources, and you can call them 24 hours a day.
You might still be talking to this person or might see them in the community. If you feel unsafe or need support you can reach out to the StrongHeart Native Helpline at https://www.strongheartshelpline.org/ or you can call them at 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483), and they are available 7 am to 10 pm central standard time.
I am proud of you for reaching out and seeking support. Healing is a process and takes time. Be patient with yourself. Take care of your heart.
Auntie Manda
