Trust Your Instincts

If you experience any sense of unease regarding your safety or the safety of someone else, it is important to pay attention to these signals. Don't disregard your feeling and always err on the side of caution.

If someone talks about painful feelings, suicide, or potential acts of violence against another, it is important to take such concerns seriously, even if it is framed as an off-handed comment or joke at the time.

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Listen Carefully

Some individuals will have trouble articulating what their real difficulties are. Make yourself available, show interest and offer support.

Do not criticize, judge or attempt to minimize their concerns. Be calm, receptive and sincere. Speak in a reassuring and supportive tone.

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Help them to take actions & get help

Remember that talking about the problem does not make it worse. The most effective means of suicide and violence prevention is referral for professional help.

Call the Office of the Dean of Students or Counseling and Psychological Services ("CAPS") in Student Health. If appropriate, offer to walk the person to the appropriate resource location.

If you have concern that immediate harm is possible, call the Police at 911.

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Relationship Violence

If you or a friend find yourself in a potentially abusive relationship or know someone that is, speak up and call for help.

Things to look for include:

• Unusual or unexplained injuries such as bruising on the face, arms or neck
• Abusive language
• Controlling or domineering behavior
• Repeated upsetting phone calls, emails, text messages and other social media.

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As a caring community we want to take the initiative to seek professional assistance. Don't fail to act because you feel this is a personal issue between the couple. If you or a friend find yourself in a potentially abusive relationship, speak up and call for help. There are several resources available to assist you and the victim.

These include:

• The Office of the Dean of Students (who can direct you to counseling resources, issue a "no contact" or "no trespass" order, or help to relocate the victim to alternative safe housing)
• The Counseling and Psychological Services unit of Student Health
• The U.Va. Women's Center;
• The University Police
• Other local resources such as the Shelter for Help in Emergency and the Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA).

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Sexual Assault

The Office of the Dean of Students provides specialized support to students who believe they, or a friend, have been the victim of a sexual assault, including referral to counseling and other community resources. Students may also file a complaint of sexual assault with the Dean of Students seeking disciplinary action through the University's Sexual Assault Board (SAB), a hearing panel composed of faculty, staff and alumni who are specifically trained in such matters. The SAB procedures are simply one method of addressing allegations of sexual assault and do not preclude a student from contacting the police and proceeding with a criminal investigation. Students are encouraged to use any and all forms of investigation that may be available, at their choosing.

Sexual Assault Resources

As with relationship violence, there are additional support resources at U.Va. and in the Charlottesville community who can assist victims of sexual assault. These include CAPS/Student Health, the University Hospital, the U.Va. Women's Center, Shelter for Help in Emergency and the Charlottesville Sexual Assault Resource Agency ("SARA").

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