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| Recovering From Sexual Assault |
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Johns Hopkins University is committed to providing an environment
where students can learn and live free of sexual abuse, which
is prohibited by University policy. National statistics indicate
that as many as one-in-four college age women are survivors
of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault and that one-in-ten
college age men are survivors of sexual abuse. Statistics aside,
we know that there are too many people experiencing abuse. The
University is committed to supporting survivors and to upholding
its policy against sexual misconduct thought disciplinary action
and other appropriate responses.
Pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases,
including HIV are potential consequences of sexual assault
and rape.
Other possible psychological and physical consequences include:
- flashbacks, dreams, and intrusive recollections
- depression, anxiety, mistrust, and/or social isolation
- difficulty forming/maintaining healthy intimate relationships
- denial and disassociation, mistrust of one's reality and memory
- feelings of blame, guilt, and stigma
- impulsive and self-defeating behavior
- headaches, backaches, sleeping problems, eating problems
Sexual assault may have a significant negative impact on the academic and personal life of survivors, sometimes for a long time.
Survivors are not alone; many members of the University student service community are prepared to help.
- helping the survivor learn options and make informed
choices
- referring the survivor to on- and off-campus services
- transporting the survivor to support service locations, such as hospitals, and accompanying her/him if desired
- arranging for short or longer term academic leaves, extensions, or other academic support
- assisting the survivor in managing issues around living
with and going to class with an abuser who is an acquaintance;
including the possibility of housing relocation of the abuser
or survivor and appropriate class changes
- assisting the survivor with family issues, including providing guest housing for family
- protecting the survivor's privacy and confidentiality
Following
a sexual assault, a survivor faces decisions regarding:
- seeking medical care
- reporting to campus and/or law enforcement authorities
- obtaining immediate and long term emotional support through formal or informal counseling
- disclosing the assault to family and friends
These decisions belong to the survivor. The circumstances of the assault and the circumstances and preferences of the survivor dictate different choices for different survivors.
The University encourages survivors to seek assistance by:
- reporting the assault to the university so that thorough support can be offered, including protecting the survivor and others from further abuse
- obtaining medical care, through an on- or off- campus facility
- obtaining counseling, through on- or off- campus services
A survivor
may report an assault and use support services without
pursuing criminal or university disciplinary action. There
is no "right" first place to turn; entry points within
the University include Campus Security, the Student Health
and Wellness Center, Counseling Center services, and the
Dean of Students Office.
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| Considerations Concerning Medical Care |
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Rape and other assaults which involved penetration or possible
exchange of bodily fluids carry the danger of STDs, including
HIV infection. An immediate medical examination will maximize
protection against STDs and pregnancy. Also, a thorough physical
examination will detect internal injuries of which a survivor
may be unaware. Lastly, a medical examination is important to
collect and document physical evidence of the assault, in the
event that a survivor decides to press charges. Antibiotic and
pregnancy prevention medication should be administered within
72 hours of an assault. Forensic evidence is best collected
as soon as possible.
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| Considerations Concerning Counseling |
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The profound personal invasiveness of sexual assault triggers
personal and distinctive responses for survivors. Surviving
and recovering from assault is a process, one in which strong
emotions and psychological pain often are present.
Benefits of using counseling services may include:
- emotional support from trained and caring people who are
objective and able to focus on the survivor's needs
- information on short and long term emotional impact of assault and reassurance that a survivor's own response in normal
- help with understanding and dealing with a survivor's
emotional response, including feelings of fear, aloneness,
anger, and self-blame or withdrawal from feeling
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assistance in getting information and making decisions about:
- managing physical health issues
- taking legal and/or disciplinary action and coping
with the process if a survivor decides to inform the
police or request University disciplinary action
- managing academics
- help with decisions about telling family and friends and understanding and dealing with their reactions
- assistance in regaining a capacity for trust and intimacy and in dealing with the assault's impact on current/future intimate and/or sexual relationships
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