Helplines in Derry and Strabane, Northern Ireland for sexual abuse.

Are you experiencing sexual abuse, assault or harassment? Contact a free hotline in Derry and Strabane, Northern Ireland for confidential support

Sexual abuse is a form sexual violence where a person uses power or coercion to force you into unwanted sexual activity. You can be a victim of sexual abuse if you are a woman, man or child. Other forms of sexual violence are sexual assault, such as rape, and sexual harassment, which is sexual behaviour toward you that is unwelcome or offensive.

If you’ve experienced sexual abuse, assault or harassment, you might be experiencing intense rage and fear, or you may feel numb. There are 1 hotlines in Derry and Strabane, Northern Ireland who support the victims of sexual violence. Consider getting some support if you recognize any of the following:

Examples of sexual violence:

• Being coerced, threatened or forced to perform any sort of sexual activity
• Being spoken to in a sexual way that you find offensive or degrading
• An organ or an object being put into your vagina (rape), or anus or mouth (sodomy), without your consent
• Experiencing an attempted rape or sodomy
• Sexual photos or videos being posted online without your consent
• Being used sexually while you were very drunk, drugged, unconscious, or unable to say NO
• Sexual abuse or assault from someone in your family (incest)
• Being forced or coerced to have sex without protection from sexually transmitted diseases

Effects of sexual violence:

• A decline in your physical and mental health
• Not being able to fall or stay asleep
• Feeling unsafe and scared that it would happen again
• Minimizing the abuse as not being as severe as someone else’s
• Feeling depressed and hopeless, with suicidal thoughts
• Bursts of fear, anxiety, and panic
• Avoidance of anything that reminds you of the sexual abuse
• Having flashbacks about the sexual abuse

Sexual violence could provoke many ways of coping, some more and some less healthy. You may go through many different feelings, responses, and stages of recovery until you fully heal.

If you’re struggling with finding meaning in what occurred to you, talking to hotline staff in Derry and Strabane, Northern Ireland might help you calm your thoughts and emotions and find a path forward. You don’t have to be alone on your journey toward recovery.

If you are victim of sexual abuse, assault or harassment, consider contacting a helpline in Derry and Strabane, Northern Ireland for free, confidential help.