Helplines in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Are you experiencing sexual abuse, assault or harassment? Contact a free hotline in Canterbury, New Zealand 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.

There are many people throughout the world who struggle to overcome the aftermath of sexual violence. If you are one of them, getting the right kind of help can make all the difference. In Canterbury, New Zealand there are 2 hotlines you can contact for support with sexual abuse, assault or harassment. Reach out if you have experienced any of the following:

Examples of sexual violence:

• Being spoken to in a sexual way that you find offensive or degrading
• Being used sexually while you were very drunk, drugged, unconscious, or unable to say NO
• Catcalls and whistles that make you feel uncomfortable or objectified
• An organ or an object being put into your vagina (rape), or anus or mouth (sodomy), without your consent
• Repeated unwanted sexual attention or advances, including in your workplace or by your employer
• Being forced or coerced to have sex without protection from sexually transmitted diseases
• Being exposed to a violent, hurtful sexual act without your permission
• Being filmed or photographed nude or in a sexually explicit way without your permission

Effects of sexual violence:

• Feeling as if everyone could see what happened to you
• Engaging in self-harm or self-mutilation
• An urge to use alcohol, drugs, or gamble excessively
• Feeling unsafe and scared that it would happen again
• A decline in your physical and mental health
• Not being able to fall or stay asleep
• Feeling overwhelmed with a range of emotions, like anger, fear, numbness
• Changes (either loss or increase) in your appetite

As a victim of sexual violence you could be feeling furious, desperate, revengeful, hopeless, and empty, all at the same time. This is a perfectly normal response to such a traumatizing event.

Coping with the trauma of sexual violence can be even harder if you are trying to do it on your own. There is no right or wrong way to recover from the abuse. However, having someone to talk to in Canterbury, New Zealand can make the process easier.

If you feel like you might need support with your experience of sexual violence, try reaching out to a hotline in Canterbury, New Zealand. It's free and confidential.