If someone discloses (tells you about) an experience of sexualized violence, the role you play can be critical. It is important to understand that all individuals express or experience their reactions to violence in different ways. It is very important that you let the person decide how they want to proceed, and what assistance, if any, they wish to seek.
Listen without judgement.
Communicate that sexualized violence is not their fault.
Respect their choice about how much they share about their experience. Focus on how you can help them now instead of the details about what occurred. Understand that disclosing can be traumatic, and an individual’s ability to recall the events may be limited.
Ask about what you can do to be supportive.
Let them make the decisions about how they wish to proceed.
You can offer to provide them with information about relevant services.
Visit “Medical Services” for information on accessing medical care.
See “Supportive Resources” for information on accessing supportive resources at BCIT and in the broader
Go to “Report Options” for information on reporting to police and/or making a report with BCIT.
Respect the individual’s right to choose the services they feel are most appropriate. Do not pressure them to file a report, contact police, or seek medical services if they do not want to.
Offer to help connect them with the services they want to access.
If you are a BCIT employee who witnessed or received a disclosure about Sexualized Violence involving another BCIT Community Member you have a responsibility to inform the Sexualized Violence Response Team (SVRT). Unless you receive this disclosure while providing confidential services such as healthcare or counselling. You should inform the person who disclosed that you are required to do this.
All other members of the BCIT community are encouraged to inform SVRT.
Informing SVRT is not the same as making a report for investigation. It is up to the person who experienced the sexualized violence to decide if they want to file a report with BCIT for investigation.
It is the right of the person who experienced the sexualized violence to decide whether or not they want to make a report to the police.
See “Report Options” for more information on reporting to the police and BCIT.