April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. For almost 10 years, SAAM’s purpose is to give a voice to sexual assault survivors, while also educating the public on what is sexual assault and prevention.
Sexual assault is all too common, with every 68 seconds an American is assaulted. 1 and 6 women have been sexual assaulted in their lifetime and almost 9 out of 10 victims of rape are female. 2.78 million men since 1998 have been victims of attempted or completed rape.
These statistics are the reason why this month is dedicated to educating the public as well as honoring the survivors of sexual assault.
All around Bloomington are places you can go to for help, as well as resources online. Some of the places are Middle Way House, located at 338 S Washington St. Their mission is to support all survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking and to educate the community through their outreach and prevention programs. You can call their 24-hour crisis line at: 812-336-0846.
Other in town numbers you can call are the Emergency/Police & Ambulance number: 911 and the IU Health Bloomington Hospital number at (812) 353-5252.
You can also find lots of online resources that you can reach out to, in addition to learning new information on the topic. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is a 24/7 hotline for people to reach out to and find support. The number you can call or text is 1-800-656-4673.
This number is also connected to RAINN, a national organization who’s mission is to end sexual assault and violence all around the country. They help you find resources near you, helping over 3.7 million survivors and loved ones in their 27 year run. They also have a live chat, where you can message an expert for support, while staying anonymous.
This April is dedicated to sexual assault survivors everywhere, and to end the cycle of assault. Educate yourself by looking at these resources to find new ways to help and support the cause.
Links to Resources:
RAINN: RAINN
Middle Way House: Middle Way House
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center: National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
The National Center for Victims of Crime: The National Center for Victims of Crime
