2016 DoD Safe Helpline video now available
“We provide a judgement-free zone.” That’s the message in the latest DoD Safe Helpline video, featuring Safe Helpline staff highlighting the anonymity and accessibility of Safe Helpline to survivors within the DoD community, as well as their family and friends.
Since 2011, over 82,000 people have reached out to Safe Helpline for support and information. While each person has a unique reason for reaching out, there are many benefits to accessing support through the Safe Helpline. One common reason someone may connect with the Safe Helpline is because it is anonymous; survivors feel safe because they do not have to provide any personal information. The anonymity provided by Safe Helpline makes it easier for survivors to take that first step in the process of healing. “We’ve worked with survivors who were assaulted 10 years ago and we’re the first person that they have talked to about it,” says a Safe Helpline staff member in the video.
In addition to survivors, friends, family members and colleagues also contact Safe Helpline. In five years, there have been more than 1 million instances of people looking for information and resources on the Safe Helpline website. Many of these individuals are looking for ways they can help and show support for the loved one in their lives.
Safe Helpline provides live, one-on-one support for members of the DoD community affected by sexual assault. The service is confidential, anonymous and secure; the content of conversations are not shared with DoD or commanders. Services are available 24/7, online at safehelpline.org or by calling 877.995.5247.
Safe Helpline also operates Safe HelpRoom, a 24/7 moderated chat service that allows members of the military to connect with each other online in a safe environment. Survivors can also create a personalized self-care plan and connect to resources with the Safe Helpline Self-Care app, which can be downloaded for free from the iOS and Android app stores, and accessed even without an internet connection.
Watch the new Safe Helpline PSA on YouTube or email outreach@safehelpline.org to receive a copy of the video to help share information about this valuable resource.
Department of Defense (DoD) Safe Helpline provides confidential crisis support and information for members of the DoD community affected by sexual assault. You can get the help you need—while remaining anonymous. Safe Helpline services are provided by the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) and are operated through a contract by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.