Helplines in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.

Have you experienced sexual abuse, assault or harassment? Reach out to a sexual abuse hotline in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand today for private, confidential support

Sexual abuse is when one person forces another person into sexual behavior, without that person's consent. It is a type of sexual violence, which is any sexual activity without consent. This includes sexual assault (such as unwanted touching or rape) and sexual harassment (unwelcome or offensive sexual behavior).

If you are a victim of sexual violence, talking through your experience can help. Reach out to any of 1 hotlines that support with sexual abuse, assault and harassment in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand if you experienced:

Examples of sexual violence:

• An organ or an object being put into your vagina (rape), or anus or mouth (sodomy), without your consent
• Rape by more than one person (gang rape) or rape by the same person over a period of time (serial rape)
• Being coerced, threatened or forced to perform any sort of sexual activity
• Repeated unwanted sexual attention or advances, including in your workplace or by your employer
• Sexual abuse or assault from someone in your family (incest)
• Being kissed or touched without your consent or being made, by coercion or force, to touch or kiss someone
• Sexual photos or videos being posted online without your consent
• Being filmed or photographed nude or in a sexually explicit way without your permission

Effects of sexual violence:

• A decline in your physical and mental health
• Minimizing the abuse as not being as severe as someone else’s
• Avoidance of anything that reminds you of the sexual abuse
• Feeling unsafe and scared that it would happen again
• Feeling dirty, damaged, and broken
• Having flashbacks about the sexual abuse
• Feeling overwhelmed with a range of emotions, like anger, fear, numbness
• Having nightmares about the sexual abuse you experienced

If you have experienced sexual violence, your emotions and thoughts are likely to change all the time in an attempt to make sense of what happened to you. It can be confusing trying to figure it out all on your own.

When you’re on your path to surviving sexual violence and its aftermath, it helps to know that there are people who can relate. People in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand who went through similar experiences could make your recovery easier and quicker.

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