What To Do if Someone You Know Has Been Sexually Assaulted | St. Clair College

Disclosure of Sexual Assault

If someone confides in you that they have been sexually assaulted, it is first important to be supportive and attentive. The following responses are appropriate:

  • listening without judgement and accepting the disclosure as true;
  • communicating that sexual violence is never the responsibility of the survivor;
  • helping the individual identify and/or access available on- or off-campus services, including emergency medical care and counselling;
  • respecting the individual's right to choose the services they feel are most appropriate and to decide whether to report to the police and/or Campus Security at 519-972-2741;
  • recognizing that disclosing can be traumatic and an individual's ability to recall the events may be limited;
  • respecting the individual's choices as to what and how much they disclose about their experience; and
  • making every effort to respect confidentiality and anonymity.

It is important to review and understand the many myths and misconceptions about sexual violence. Please refer to the attached Myths and Misconceptions chart for more information.

Once you have listened, refer your friend or colleague to the sexual assault crisis centre or any of the resources listed on this page.


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24-7-365 Online Reporting

St. Clair College has partnered with REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors) to provide online reporting for sexual violence on campus. REES allows members of our campus community to Create a Record of the incident and choose from multiple reporting options: Anonymous Report, Connect to My Campus, or Repeat Perpetrator Identification (RPI). REES provides information about campus and community-based resources such as sexual assault centres, healthcare, and support services.

REES can be accessed online anywhere, anytime. Go to https://reescommunity.com/campus and select St. Clair College from the drop-down list.