The NHS has this week launched a new campaign to raise awareness of sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) – specialist NHS services that provide a safe space and dedicated care for anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused.
The campaign aims to highlight these vital NHS support services, with new data of over 4,000 respondents in England finding that over half of respondents (56%) who have been sexually assaulted or abused did not seek help from any organisation or service after the incident, with nearly half (46%) citing fear of being believed as the biggest barrier to not accessing services.
Nearly half (44%) of people also say they don’t know or aren’t sure where to get help if they had been sexually assaulted, and 72% of respondents are currently unaware of the support available via the NHS.
This highlights the crucial need to raise awareness of sexual assault referral centres, which are available for everyone, regardless of when the incident happened, with 47 centres across the country that offer specialist practical, medical and emotional support 24/7.
If you have been raped, sexually assaulted or abused and don’t know where to turn, search “sexual assault referral centres” to find out more or head to www.nhs.uk/SARCs to find your nearest service.