Columbia University Health Services

Seek Medical Attention. Go to Primary Care Medical Services or a local hospital emergency room for immediate medical care to check for injury, prevent sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. It is possible that you may have injuries that you cannot see or feel. Hospital emergency rooms can also provide evidence collection. Evidence collection does not require you to place a report with the police or press charges; it just preserves these options for the future. A Peer Advocate can accompany you to the hospital and/or provide more information about this process

Preserve evidence. For the purposes of evidence collection, we suggest that you avoid drinking and eating, showering, brushing your teeth, combing your hair or changing your clothes before going to the hospital. If you have done any of these things, evidence may still be collected and it remains important to seek medical attention. If you have changed your clothes, take the clothes you were wearing at the time of the assault to the hospital in a paper bag. If you have not changed your clothes, it may be a good idea to bring a change of clothes to hospital.

Consider talking with a counselor. Counseling is often helpful for survivors because it provides a safe place to talk about your experience and your feelings. Both Peer Counseling and Counseling & Psychological Services are available.

Consider reporting

Consider filing a complaint.

Remember it's not your fault.