HealthInfo Canterbury
Sexual harm
For advice and support, contact Safe to talk. This is a free national 24-hour seven day a week confidential service for anyone looking for help to do with sexual harm. You can get help by phone 0800-044-334, text 4334, or via the website.
Sexual harm is when someone:
- touches you sexually when you don't want them to (for example, touching your genitals or breasts)
- makes you touch another person, or yourself, sexually when you don't want to
- makes you watch sexual activity, or watches you doing sexual things, when you don't want to
- touches you or makes you do something sexual that makes you feel uncomfortable, threatened or scared.
If you've been sexually harmed it's important to know there are people who want to help you and you don't have to go through this alone.
The first thing to do is go somewhere you feel safe, such as the home of a close friend or family member. If you feel able to, tell someone you trust what has happened.
You don't have to decide straight away whether you want to make a formal complaint to the police. It's OK to take the time you need to decide this.
Getting help for sexual harm
Whether or not you choose to go to police or tell anyone else, it's best to see a doctor as soon as possible if the sexual harm included rape. If you live in Canterbury or on the West Coast, you can see the doctors and nurses at the Cambridge Clinic. This is a specialist medical service for anybody over 12 who's been sexually assaulted or abused. You can see them straight after an assault, or years afterwards. You can also go to your own doctor, or the hospital. Talking to a health care professional is confidential.
You can phone Sexual Assault Support Service Canterbury for free 24-hour rape and sexual assault support. Phone 0800-Aviva-now (0800‑284‑82669).
You can also call the police on (03) 363‑7400. It's OK to contact them just to ask for advice and to find out what your options are. You don't have to make a formal complaint. The police can also help you and put you in touch with people who can help. This useful page on their website explains your choices after a sexual assault. It has written information and videos about topics like support services, medical check-ups and what happens when you go to a police station.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Cambridge Clinic
The Cambridge Clinic provides medical services for anyone over 12 in Canterbury or the West Coast who has been sexually assaulted, whether recently or in the past. Also see the Cambridge Clinic pamphlet.
- Rape Prevention Education
Website of Rape Prevention Education (RPE).
On the next page: Support for sexual harm
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed January 2021.
See also:
Review key: HISAA-14477
