Assess the situation she is in and find out if she has family or friends who would be supportive. Assess her emotional needs and the coping skills that she might have used in the past to deal with a crisis situation. Help her set goals and tasks that she can achieve in a short period of time. Give her support and responsibility to choose an option. We encourage women to seek medical attention after an assault.
Medical attention is also useful if the woman wants to report the assault to the police.
If she chooses to have evidence collected, special procedures are followed and must be done within 72 hours after the assault. Below we list some of the features of the local hospital based sexual assault treatment centres in Ottawa to help women make informed decisions about where to go. For adults 16 years and older. This program consists of a team of professionals who provide medical care as well as support for emotional, legal and social concerns. If the survivor wants, it will collect the Sexual Assault Evidence Kit, and work in collaboration with Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police to explore her reporting options.