Equipping young people to help peers

Many of us grew up hearing that we should tell a trusted adult if we need support or have questions about behaviors that may be sexual assault. But our work with young survivors shows that, more often, they will turn to peers first.

That’s both an opportunity and a challenge we think about especially at this time of year. While students and parents are bombarded with ads for dorm gear, notebooks and the latest running shoes, there’s something else to equip them with: information.

Fortunately, we’re getting more curious as a society about how best to support survivors who disclose abuse to us. It’s a question adults ask us all the time — our most popular webinars have centered on how to respond to abuse disclosures.

Now imagine being a young person who doesn’t have an adult’s life experiences and resources in your corner. How would they even begin to know what to do? And how does it impact them when they don’t?

Someone who hears a disclosure without the tools to provide a supportive first response can feel a powerlessness that can be anxiety-provoking. And it may not help the survivor.

While the advice of bringing in a trusted adult still stands, there’s a lot we can do to help young people on both sides of this conversation.

We teach our children how to dial 911 and encourage them to take CPR lessons in case of emergencies — that’s empowerment and common sense. So too is equipping young people with strategies that help them know what to do if a friend discloses abuse — or help them recognize when sexual contact is abuse. This helps both the person hearing the disclosure, as well as the victim themselves.

As a new school year begins, young people are experiencing new relationships, and reconnecting with friends after a summer break. This point of connection may bring more disclosures. We also know the risk of sexual violence is at its peak for college freshmen in particular during the first weeks on campus as students acclimate to new freedoms and environment, a period of time known as the “red zone.”

We want students at all levels (and the adults in their lives) to know KCSARC is here for you, with free and confidential information and support.

Our 24-hour Resource Line can help answer questions, provide resources, and help strategize about what to do next, whether a caller is helping a friend or calling for themselves. Advocates are ready to help at 1.888.998.6423 seven days a week.