MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
Sexual Assault
National Sexual Assault Hotline: call 800-656-4673 or click here to chat with a therapist online
Contact the local Women's Resource Center.
Rape Crisis Center: 405-701-5660
AST Rising Warrior Department, located in Shawnee provides free confidential services to Native and Non-Native victims/survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Dating Violence.
Sexual assault refers to sexual behavior that occurs without the clear consent of the victim. According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), some forms of sexual assault include:
Attempted rape;
Fondling or unwanted sexual touching;
Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, such as oral sex or penetrating the perpetrator's body; and
Penetration of the victim's body (rape)
It's important to note that force does not just mean physical force, but includes manipulation, coercion, threats, and situations where a person is unable to give consent.
Sexual assault is never the victim's fault.
Sexual violence can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on a survivor, including depression, PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks, substance abuse, eating disorders, and self-harm. These effects aren’t always easy to deal with, but with the right help and support they can be managed. Learning more can help you find the best form of care to begin the healing process.
Statistics
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More than 3 in 4 women (77%) and 1 in 3 men (34%) experienced verbal sexual harassment;
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1 in 2 women (51%) and 1 in 6 men (17%) were sexually touched in an unwelcome way;
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Around 4 in 10 women (41%) and 1 in 4 men (22%) experienced cyber sexual harassment;
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More than 1 in 3 women (34%) and 1 in 10 men (12%) were physically followed;
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More than 1 in 4 women (27%) and 1 in 14 men (7%) survived sexual assault.
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Typically sexual harassment comes from strangers (most commonly men), and sexual assault comes from a family member, partner, friend, etc.
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Among those who reported experiencing sexual harassment and assault, 31% of women and 20% of men said they felt anxiety or depression, while 23% of women and 12% of men changed their route or regular routine.
Steps You Can Take After Sexual Assault
safety
Are you in a safe place? If you’re not feeling safe, consider reaching out to someone you trust for support. You don’t have to go through this alone.
call
Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673). You’ll be connected to a trained staff member from a local sexual assault service provider in your area. They will direct you to a local health facility for survivors, and maybe even send a trained advocate to accompany you.
You can also call the local 24 hour sexual assault/rape crisis line at (405) 701-5660
medical
The National Sexual Assault Hotline can direct you to the appropriate local health facility that can care for survivors of sexual assault. You can also search for a local service provider near you at centers.rainn.org
Your health and recovery is worth it.
report
There are several ways to report sexual assault.
- call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
- Contact the local police department. Call the direct line of your local police station or visit the station in person. If you are on OU's campus, contact (405) 615-0013 (off campus or by cell) and ask for OU Advocates.
- visit a medical center and ask to report.
therapy
Therapy and counseling can provide a safe space to process and cope with what you have been through.
Click here if you have questions about therapy after assault.
talk
It is important to have support from people who love you, like friends, family, or pastors. But sometimes, the people closest to you can be the most difficult to talk to.
Warning Signs to watch for in others
It’s not easy to come forward.
In eight out of 10 cases of sexual assault, the perpetrator is someone the victim knows. This can make it more difficult for someone to be open about sexual assault, particularly if the perpetrator is part of a friend group, a classmate, or someone who is well liked by other peers. No matter who the alleged perpetrator is, the survivor deserves support and care.
It’s better to ask and be wrong than to let the person you care about struggle with the effects of sexual assault. You can ask questions that point to a specific person or time like, “Did something happen with the person you met at the party the other night?” You can also simply reaffirm that you will believe them when they are ready to come forward, and that it’s not their fault.
If you notice these warning signs in a college-age adult, it’s worth reaching out to them:
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Signs of depression, such as persistent sadness, lack of energy, changes in sleep or appetite, withdrawing from normal activities, or feeling “down”
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Self-harming behaviors, thoughts of suicide, or suicidal behaviors
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Low self-esteem
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Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
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Anxiety or worry about situations that did not seem to cause anxiety in the past
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Avoiding specific situations or places
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Falling grades or withdrawing from classes
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Increase in drug or alcohol use
Isaiah 43:2-3a
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God.