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April 2023: Sexual Assault Awareness Month



Hey Pioneers! Welcome to April, the month dedicated to Sexual Assault Awareness. 

Sexual assault can be a topic that is difficult to talk about. Sometimes, you may wonder if what happened really was a sexual assault. You may question your memory or may even have no memory of the event. You may not want to believe that the other person involved would have wanted to harm you, or you may not even know them.

A sexual assault happens when a person experiences unwanted sexual contact. It includes rape, but also other behaviors. Any touch that is not consented to and is done for sexual reasons is sexual assault. If you’ve experienced a sexual assault, or you’re wondering whether what you experienced was a sexual assault, it can be hard to know what to do next and who would be safe to talk to. You may feel very alone and like no one else could possibly understand what you’re going through or how you feel.

You’re not alone; there are many resources available at no charge to help you process and heal from your experience, and decide what if any steps you may wish to take in terms of safety planning and seeking justice. There is a list of resources at the bottom of this post. Sexual assault hotlines provide trained staff or volunteers who can listen without judgment, help you talk through options, and refer you on to additional resources depending on your needs. Some hotlines offer support through text or chat in addition to phone calls.

If you decide to report the assault to police, seek a protective order to prevent the person who assaulted you from coming near you, or seek a forensic sexual assault exam, your local sexual assault agency may have trained staff or volunteers who can accompany you and assist you in accessing these services.
As a TWU student, you can access counseling through CAPS to process your thoughts and emotions about your experiences, develop a safety plan, and get information about other resources, such as those listed below.

Remember, we are here for you and you are not alone!

- Cyndi Grady, MA, LPC (TWU CAPS Clinician)


Helpful Definitions:

Sexual Harassment - when a person makes unwelcome sexual advances or verbal statements of a sexual nature, usually in a workplace or educational setting

Sexual Assault - when someone touches another person in a sexual manner without their consent or when someone makes another person take part in a sexual activity with them without that person's consent; includes unwanted kissing and sexual touching.

Sextortion - occurs when someone has sensitive photos or videos of a person and threatens to distribute them unless they receive sexual favors, additional sexual materials, or money

Sexual Exploitation - occurs when a person uses another person’s body in a sexual manner for personal benefit (such as in sex trafficking)

Resources:

  • Denton County Friends of the Family: 940-382-7273, www.dcfof.org
  • (Harris County): AVDA, 713-224-9911 or www.avda.org
  • (Dallas County): Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center, 972-641-7273 or www.dallasrapecrisis.org
  • (National) Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN): 800-656-HOPE or www.rain.org
  • (Legal) Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid/Legal Aid for Survivors of Sexual Assault TRLA/LASSA, 800-991-5153 or www.trla.org

Interested in other When Life Feels Messy content? 
Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDvZhitB6IB01ex05vw0o?si=a87510fe7229415e
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@whenlifefeelsmessy...
Instagram - @twucaps and @twudalhou_caps


TWU CAPS Contact Information:
Denton Front Office - 940-898-3801
Crisis Line - 940-898-4357

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