How To Help A Friend
If Your Friend is the Perpetrator
- Listen to what the person is saying. Believe him/her when s/he says s/he has done something with which they are uncomfortable
- Resist the urge to minimize the person's actions. Minimizing the person's behavior will not make him or her feel better in the long run and may put the person at risk for recidivism.
- Encourage the person to stay away from his or her victim. Survivors of sexual and relationship violence need space to heal and feel safe again.
- Encourage the person to seek corrective services. Assaultive behavior does not go away on its own.
- Help the person to hold him or herself accountable. Getting away with sexual assault or relationship violence does not make it right.
- Get support and information for yourself.
(Adapted from Columbia's "How to Help a Friend", with additions from RVA's How Can I HELP)
