- Listen. Be there. Communicate without judgment.
- If the survivor seeks medical attention or plans to report, offer to be there. Your presence can offer the support they need.
- Encourage the survivor to get support. Share resources, but realize that only they can make the decision to get help.
- Be patient. Remember, there is no timetable for recovering from trauma. Avoid putting pressure on them to engage in activities they aren’t ready to do yet.
- Encourage them to practice good self-care during this difficult time.
- If someone you care about is considering suicide, learn the warning signs, and offer help and support. For more information about suicide prevention please visit 988 Lifeline at 988lifeline.org
The Ion Center for Violence Prevention
835 Madison Ave.
Covington, KY 41011
(859) 491-3335 (call or text 24/7)
Direct Intervention - Goal: Directly confront the situation with the people who are involved. Confront the Aggressor or Perpetrator and call out the harmful words/actions/behavior toward their target. Let them know that their behavior will not be tolerated and they may face serious consequences for their actions. Talk to the Target about what they have experienced/are experiencing, let them know that you believe them and support them and will help them get to safety.
Cause a Distraction - Goal: Create a break in the harmful behavior to give the Target space to get away from the Aggressor/Perpetrator. Make a loud noise, engage the target/aggressor in a random conversation, cause a theatrical scene to divert attention and separate the victim from the perpetrator.
Delegate Responsibility - Goal: Get other people to help with the situation. Ask people you know or other bystanders to intervene with you. Ask people who know the victim or the perpetrator to intervene for you. Ask an authority figure to intervene for you, call the police or other emergency personnel if the situation is too dangerous for you to intervene.
Delay Intervention - Goal: Wait to intervene until you know what type of intervention to do, or until it is safer for you intervene. Document the incident with photo/video to use as evidence after an incident has occurred.