Find Support
Statistics show that sexual assault is a real thing that happens on every campus. It happens in and outside of dating relationships and to people of all gender identities, expressions, and orientations. What should you do if it does?
Understand that you are not alone and there are resources available to help you, whether you recently experienced an assault, or whether it has been weeks, months, or years.
SANet can provide you with information about each of the below options and walk you through how to access each resource if you so choose. SANet empowers callers to make the decision about how to proceed, and our advocates will support every decision you make.
If you would like to meet in person, SANet CARE Team members are available for walk-ins weekdays from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in Maloney 441 or by appointment.
For 24/7 support during the academic year, you may contact SANet's Hotline Team at 617-552-2211.
Find Support for Friends and Family
Find out how you can help survivors that you care about:
- You can listen. Listening is one of the most important ways you can support a survivor of sexual assault. Some survivors will want to talk right away, and others will need some time. Let the person you care about know that you will be ready when (s)he is. Let them talk and talk while you simply listen.
- You can believe. Survivors of sexual assault often worry that they will not be believed. If someone wants to talk with you about something as personal as sexual assault, it means they trust you. Try not to ask questions that sound like you don't believe the story. In fact, tell the survivor directly, "I believe you" When a survivor feels believed, you have helped the healing.
- You can let them make choices. Sexual assault takes away a person's power and feeling of control. Respecting a survivor's choices helps them get those feelings back. Making decisions is an important way to feel powerful. You can help get information and understand options, but a survivor needs to make his/her own decisions. You can empower the person you care about by supporting their decisions, even if you may not agree with them.
- You can get informed. Learn more about survivors' common reactions to an assault. If you know more, you can better understand and support the survivor.
- You can take care of yourself. You are an important person in the survivor's life if they chose to tell you about their assault. Take care of yourself and your feelings so that you will be better able to help them.
Support for Professionals
If a student discloses a sexual assault to you:
Care
Care for the student
- Ensure that they are safe
- Provide non-judgmental support
Connect
Connect with resources
- SANet: 617-552-2211
- CARE Team: 617-552-8099
- Counseling and Support
Contact
Contact the Title IX Coordinator
- Melinda Stoops: 617-552-3482
- Report the incident
- Discuss next steps
Available Resources
Sexual Assault Network (SANet)*
617-552-BC11 (2211)
CARE Team*
Walk-in hours, M-F 3:00–4:00 p.m. in Maloney 441
If you prefer to schedule an appointment, please email SANet@bc.edu.
Legal & Law Enforcement
- Police (Municipal) 911
- Police (Boston College) 617-552-4444 (emergency),
617-552-4440 (non-emergency) - Victim Rights Law Center 617-399-6720
Medical Treatment
- University Health Services (day)* 617-552-2225
- University Health Services (nights and weekends)* 617-552-3227
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (ER) 617-754-2400
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (ER) 617-732-5636
Counseling and Support
- Women's Center* 617-552-3489
- University Counseling Services (day)* 617-552-3310
- University Counseling Services (nights and weekends)* 617-552-3227
- Beth Israel Center for Violence Prevention and Recovery 617-667-8141
- Fenway Community Health Violence Recovery Program 617-927-6250
- Boston Area Rape Crisis Center 617-492-7273
- Campus Ministry* 617-552-3475
Other Resources
- Office of Student Conduct: 617-552-3470
- Melinda Stoops, Title IX Coordinator for Students: 617-552-3482
*Indicates confidential resource
HEAL Support Group
HEAL Support GroupHEAL is a confidential, weekly, support group for Boston College students who have been directly impacted by sexual assault. This group is joint collaboration between University Counseling Services (UCS) and the Boston College Women’s Center (BCWC).
For more information, please email Eileen Surhoff, Psy.D., Associate Director of University Counseling Services.
This is a support group for survivors of sexual violence. It is a space to discuss and share with each other about the stressors experienced as a result of an assault(s). This group is not a place to talk through the actual traumatic event and does not serve as a substitute for individual therapy. It is a closed group, which means that once the group begins (usually a few weeks into the fall and spring semesters) no additional new members can join until the following semester. This is necessary in order to build trust and cohesion between group members and so that the meetings feel predictable and safe. Students who have a desire to join this group but are unable due to the group having already started should contact Eileen Suhrhoff, PsyD at University Counseling Services (eileen. suhrhoff@bc.edu) for information on additional resources, workshops for survivors, and for placement on a contact list for those interested in joining the following semester.
BC students (undergraduate or graduate, of all genders) who have been directly impacted by sexual assault are welcomed to join this group. HEAL facilitators are BC staff members who are either trained clinicians, or supervised by trained clinicians, from University Counseling Services and The Women’s Center.
A screening is an essential part of forming a group. A one on one conversation with a group facilitator is needed in order to provide more detailed information about the group and to gather information to decide if the student would benefit from participation in this particular group. This is determined together based on a conversation about the student’s goals, willingness/ability to participate, and progress in their healing journey. Depending on where an individual is in the timing of their healing process, a group such as HEAL can be helpful or harmful. It is necessary for students to be at a stage in which their well-being will not be jeopardized by the group experience. If you think this group might be a good fit for you and want to schedule a screening conversation with one of our facilitators please contact University Counseling Services at 617-552-3310 and request a 60 minute screening for HEAL.
Reasons Someone Might Be A Good Fit for HEAL
- You are looking for community
- You want to connect with other survivors
- You already have some coping skills in place but want more
- You can tolerate talking about the topics of sexual assault
- Dissociation and flashbacks are not primary presenting problems
- You want to get support and give support
- You feel alone in your healing process
Reasons Someone Might Not Be A Good Fit for HEAL
- You are wanting to process the actual traumatic event
- Sharing in this context may cause your symptoms to worsen
- Your experience with assault has been very recent and you may first need to build coping skills or connect with other resources before joining
- You are currently in crisis or suicidal
- Your are having difficulty managing symptoms such as dissociation or flashbacks which may interfere with the group process
- You are not looking for connection and community with other survivors
For questions related to HEAL please contact Eileen Suhrhoff, PsyD at eileen. suhrhoff@bc.edu at University Counseling Services.
HEAL is a confidential, weekly, support group for BC students who have been directly impacted by sexual assault. This group is a collaboration between University Counseling Services and The Women’s Center.
HEAL aims to assist members achieve the following goals:
- Members will not feel alone in their experiences, feelings, and reactions
- Members will feel supported
- Members will gain a better understanding of the effects of sexual assault
- Members will be better able to cope with the effects of sexual assault
- Members will feel like they can support others
- Members will feel less anxious and afraid