Helplines in Västmanland, Sweden.

Are you experiencing sexual abuse, assault or harassment? Contact a free hotline in Västmanland, Sweden 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 are a victim of sexual violence, talking about your experience with people who understand can help you recover. Seek free help from 1 sexual abuse, assault and harassment hotlines in Västmanland, Sweden if you face:

Examples of sexual violence:

• Repeated unwanted sexual attention or advances, including in your workplace or by your employer
• Sexual photos or videos being posted online without your consent
• 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 spoken to in a sexual way that you find offensive or degrading
• Being coerced, threatened or forced to perform any sort of sexual activity
• 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
• 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

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.

After surviving sexual violence, you might believe no one will understand your feelings. However, there are people in Västmanland, Sweden who will give their best to understand you. Speaking freely about what you experienced could help you heal faster.

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