If you need help now
Where to turn if you are in danger, have been assaulted, are in crisis or are worried about your sexual health.
In an emergency
If you or someone else is in danger or badly hurt, call your local emergency number now: 112 in the EU and many other countries, 911 in the US and Canada, 999 in the UK, 000 in Australia.
After sexual assault or abuse
What happened is not your fault. A rape crisis centre, sexual assault referral centre or domestic abuse helpline can listen, explain your options and support you confidentially, whether or not you want to report it. If the assault was recent, a hospital or sexual health clinic can offer emergency contraception and medicine that lowers the risk of HIV (PEP), which works best when started as soon as possible and within 72 hours.
- United States: RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline, 800-656-4673.
- Elsewhere: findahelpline.com lists free, confidential helplines by country and topic.
If you are thinking about suicide or feel unable to cope
- United States: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
- UK and Ireland: Samaritans, 116 123.
- Elsewhere: findahelpline.com.
A sexual health worry
A sexual health clinic, family planning clinic, doctor or pharmacist can help with emergency contraception, STI testing and treatment, PEP and PrEP. Many clinics are free and confidential, and some see young people without telling their parents.
Heart Lexicon is a dictionary. It cannot give individual advice, and email to us is not a crisis service.