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Trust yourself: No matter what the circumstances were, you are not to blame for what happened to you. Give yourself permission to do what you need to do to take care of yourself.
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Tell someone you trust: When you feel ready, it can be helpful to talk to someone about your experience. Any form of sexual violence can be terrifying and traumatic, and it can be an enormous burden to bear alone. Think about supportive people in your life and those you could lean on when you need to. You have control over who you tell and how much or how little you choose to share.
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You have the ultimate choice in deciding what happens next: Below are options for treatment, reporting, and additional support if you choose to seek it out.
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Requesting medical care: Even if you don't think you were physically hurt, you may want to be checked for internal injuries, pregnancy prevention, and sexually transmitted disease prevention as soon as possible. Also, having a medical exam within 120 hours (5 days) is best for collecting physical evidence of a sexual assault. You can seek medical care at UHS, UM Hospital, or St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, and SAPAC has advocates who can attend appointments with you.
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Report to any or all authorities: There are many reporting options, and you can choose to pursue none, some, or all of them. You can report to the police (DPSS or the Ann Arbor Police Department), the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), or the Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR). For more information on filing a complaint, OIE has created a helpful flowchart on the process. You can contact SAPAC for assistance in reviewing your reporting options.
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Seek additional supportive counseling: Regardless of whether you get a medical examination or report the assault, you may want support as you deal with the impact of the assault. On campus, CAPS offers individual counseling, crisis walk-in services, and group therapy. SAPAC offers advocacy, support in reporting, support in receiving accommodations, etc. There are also many resources off campus, and CAPS or SAPAC can help you connect with these as well.
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Content adapted from SAPAC's Options for Survivors of Sexual Assault