FAQ – What should I do if I am sexually assaulted?

Know that experiencing sexual violence is NOT YOUR FAULT.

Immediate Response if you Have Experienced Sexual Violence

1. Go to a safe place

  • Friend, family, residence life staff
  • For immediate support by telephone contact the confidential support line of The Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre 705-741-0260 / 1-866-298-7778 available 24/7 7 days a week.

2. Get medical attention as needed

  • Go to your local emergency room
    • Peterborough Regional Health Centre: 1 Hospital Drive, Peterborough, ON
    • Lindsay: Ross Memorial Hospital: 10 Angeline St N, Lindsay, ON
    • Cobourg: Northumberland Hills Hospital: 1000 DePalma Dr. Cobourg, ON
    • Haliburton: 7199 Gelert Rd. Dysart and Others, ON
    • See the Sexual Assault Response Team located at the Peterborough Hospital Call Us – We can Help
      • The Sexual Assault Response Team and will see people of all genders. The Sexual Assault Response Team is a group of specially trained nurses. The team is available 24/7. The team can provide:
        • Patient guided medical care – you chose what you want/don’t want – not police involvement without your consent.
        • Emergency and follow-up medical care for injuries and testing for sexually transmitted infections – this includes free treatments for STI’s and preventative medication for HIV.
        • Collection of information (forensic evidence) that may be necessary for use in a criminal investigation, if the client wishes.
        • Crisis intervention and ongoing counselling support
      • If you think you may be interested in having an evidence kit done, go within 72hours, try not to shower, use the washroom or change your clothes. Even if an evidence kit is done, you do not have to report if you do not want to. They will save the evidence for up to 6 months to give you time to make a decision.

3. Seek out support and counselling

 4. Get Advice on Available Options for Reporting

  • Campus Security
  • Counseling Services

5. Options for Follow-up (After immediate needs are met)

It is often difficult to disclose and report incidents of sexual violence. It is entirely up to you if you choose to report the incident; however, we strongly encourage you to do so. A number of other resources on campus are available to you, including:

  • Campus Security (8000 from a campus phone (24/7 service), or 705-749-5530 x8000 from an outside line) or the Information Booth.
  • Counselling services: Brealey and Cobourg campus at 705-749-5530 x1527, Frost and Haliburton campus 705-324-9144 ext. 3320.
  • The Human Rights Officer (Located in Human Resources)
  • Residence Life Staff
  • Kawartha Sexual Assault Hotline (24/7 service) – 705-741-0260/1866-298-7778