Giving Support

Safety First

Safety comes first

If you are witnessing an act of sexual violence on campus or if the immediate safety of the survivor or any other member of the community is at risk, call 911 immediately or notify Campus Security at 250-370-3075.

Responsibility of Camosun College employees

If you are a Camosun faculty or staff member and someone discloses sexual violence or misconduct to you, you are responsible for letting them know what supports at Camosun are available to them, including the Student Support Manager, Counselling Centre and Campus Security. As an employee, you are required to report to the Office of Student Support that a disclosure was made. Please refer to the Guidelines for Employees.

Supporting a disclosure

When someone discloses to you that they have been subjected to sexual violence or misconduct, listen to them, believe them and validate them.

It can help to use the acronym CLEAR to remember these steps.

Confirm their immediate safety and find privacy

• If an assault happened recently, make sure the survivor is in a safe location away from the perpetrator.
• If their physical safety or the safety of any community member is at risk - call 911 or contact Campus Security at 250-370-3075.
• The survivor can contact the Victoria Sexual Assault Clinic directly at 250-383-3232 for support and services (accessible 24/7).
• If the survivor says that they would feel most supported at Counselling Services, walk them to the Counselling Centre on campus.
• They can also contact the Office of Student Support.

Find a safe place to talk

Disclosures are sensitive, personal, and private matters. Find a comfortable, private place to have your disclosure conversation. Make adjustments to the setting to ensure privacy and comfort.

Listen without judgment

Survivors may be very apprehensive about sharing their personal, difficult information for the first time. A supportive response can make a big difference. Here are some ways to communicate support and concern:

Helpful responses

 Let the survivor control the pace of the conversation

 Listen carefully and without judgment

 Acknowledge the courage it took to come forward

 Give them time to decide what they'd like to do next

Unhelpful responses

 Questioning the survivor's behaviour or experience

 Making dismissive or victim-blaming statements

 Interrupting or asking for specific details about the incident

 Making physical contact without their consent

Ensure confidentiality

Knowing that one's personal information will be treated confidentially is essential in creating the safety required for someone to feel comfortable enough to disclose sexual violence or misconduct, and to seek support. Tell the person that you will respect their privacy and the confidentiality of their personal information to the fullest extent possible.

In rare cases, in accordance with the Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy, the college may be required to breach confidentiality. A student will be notified by the Office of Student Support if confidentiality needs to be breached in accordance with privacy legislation and applicable laws and policies.

The college may be required to breach confidentiality in cases where:

• An individual is identified as being at imminent risk of harming themselves or another.
• There are reasonable grounds to believe that members of the college community or wider community may be at risk of harm.
• It is necessary to do so in order to promote fairness of process for all parties involved.
• Notification and/or action is required by law, other college policies, or an external body with proper authority (ex. if one of the people involved is a minor, or if a judge subpoenas the college's case records).

Assist them with support and information

An important part of supporting someone who has experienced sexual violence or misconduct is to provide them with information about their options for support and resolution. Navigating college and community resources can be challenging. A good place to start is to ask them what support looks like for them. See Services for a full range of options.

If they have recently experienced sexual violence or assault, recommend that they contact the Victoria Sexual Assault Clinic 24/7 at 250-383-3232, where they can meet with a support worker and a specially trained forensic nurse examiner. Here, they will receive the appropriate medical examination, medication, crisis support, connections to community resources, and reporting options. Alternately, they may choose to go to a hospital emergency department.

• If they choose not to seek medical support, and they are a student, recommend that they contact the Counselling Centre on campus, the Office of Student Support, or the Camosun College Student Society (CCSS).
• If they choose not to seek medical or professional support, encourage them to tell a trusted friend or family member.

Recommend they speak directly to the Office of Student Support, in order to learn about the options for resolution of situations involving sexual violence or misconduct.  This office can assist with:

• Safety planning
• Referrals to medical and community support services
• Self-care resources
• Academic and workplace accommodations
• Understanding available reporting options
• Navigating systems and resources within the College and the community

Ask the person what support looks like for them. It’s important for the person to leave your conversation with a sense of a positive next step. 

Respect their choices

Remind the person making the disclosure that there are different options for how to proceed toward resolving the situation, including receiving support and taking no further action. The college respects their right to proceed according to their preferred choice and their readiness. Encourage them to practice self-care and to connect with the support that feels right for them – whether this is a friend, family member, a college or community service.