Sexual assault is a very serious and traumatic events, and unfortunately, it does happen to teens. In fact, On average, there are 463,634 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States.
Common types of sexual assault include rape—sexual intercourse against a person’s will forcible sodomy, forcible object penetration, unwanted sexual touching, incest, or any unwanted or coerced sexual contact
Sexual violence can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on a survivor. This can include depression, flashbacks, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These can have lasting impacts on the survivor if not fully treated.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, it's important to understand your rights. Sexual assault victims have the following rights: free evidence collection, test result access, a dedicated task force for the investigation, arrest, and conviction of their assaulter.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, it's important to seek help as soon as possible. You can get help by talking to a family member, teacher, counselor, or doctor, or by contacting the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673).
In this video, one teen discusses her experience with sexual assault and how she survived and healed.