There is no one correct way to handle a traumatic sexual experience. Whatever the situation, you are in charge of deciding what you want to do.
If you are experiencing difficulties and would like to discuss them with someone, do so in a way that makes you feel safe, listened to, and comfortable. Always listen to your feelings when you are deciding who to speak to. You may want to discuss things with someone close to you, someone from the university, or a professional.
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Talk to someone close to you
There can be benefits to talking about your experience with a friend or family member you trust. Talking to someone can help you feel less alone. It can also be reassuring to know that there is someone you can call when you feel bad.
At the same time, you don’t have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to. You don’t owe anyone a conversation about an upsetting experience.
If you do decide to entrust someone with your story, it can be helpful to prepare for the conversation beforehand. That gives you the opportunity to think about what you do and don’t want to share. You can tell people as much or as little as you like.
Thinking about how you expect people to react can be helpful, too. People don’t always know how to react to being told about an upsetting experience. While you always hope for the best reaction, it can be useful to prepare for different responses so that you don’t feel blindsided if you are faced with them.
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Talk to someone at the university or seeking professional help
Seeking professional help can be a nerve-racking step. Finding someone who can help you isn't always a hole in one. Sometimes people talk to a number of different professionals before they find the person who is the right fit for them.
You are not alone in this. There are a number of different support options available at the university. And if you want to look for support outside the university, we are happy to help you find it. You can find an overview of the different options within and outside the university on our support page.
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Choosing whether or not to make a police report
If you have been the victim of a sexual offence, you may be wondering whether or not to take legal steps.
In that case, and even if you already know that you want to take matters further, we recommend that you contact the Limburg police sexual offences team (tel. 0900-8844). Doing this enables you to gather information about deciding whether or not to inform the police, providing an initial account, and filing a report.
If you are looking for help – whether medical, psychological, or in making a report – get in touch with the Sexual Assault Center (CSG). The experts who work there can advise you what to expect from a forensic examination (to identify and record any injuries and/or evidence resulting from the crime). They will also offer you options for additional support.
It is important to get in touch as soon as possible after the incident. You can contact either the police (if you would like the police to be involved) or the Sexual Assault Center. It is recommended that you do this in order to identify and record evidence (within 7 days) and to receive treatment for HIV (within 72 hours).
Something that you may want to consider is that once you file a police report, it is not always easy or possible to withdraw it. The public prosecutor may also decide to pursue the suspect independently after hearing an initial account. This is because the public prosecutor’s role involves making a risk assessment pertaining to the public interest.
You are not required to file a police report. If you decide to go this route, you should be sure that it is what you want to do.
