Sexual assault is an act of sexual violence and aggression which occurs when a person is forced, threatened, or coerced into sexual contact without his/her consent. Sexual assault is committed primarily out of anger and/or a need to feel powerful by controlling, dominating, or humiliating the victim. Examples of sexual assault include: rape, sodomy, fondling, indecent exposure, peeping Toms, obscene phone calls, childhood sexual abuse, and sexual harassment.

• People of any age can be victims of a sexual assault.
• Sexual assault happens to women, men, and children.
• Approximately 80% of all sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows, such as a friend, spouse, family member, date, coworker, or neighbor.
• One in four females, and one in six males, will be sexually assaulted before age 18.

Survivors of sexual assault may experience a variety of after-effects in unique and individual ways. A survivor may feel:

• Loss of control of her/his life.
• Anger
• Fear
• Distrust
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Guilt and self-blame - feeling responsible for the assault
• Some survivors find it hard to concentrate, have difficulty sleeping, and may experience mood swings and changed eating patterns.

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