Sexual violence crisis support
If you or someone close to you has experienced sexual violence, or if you suspect that something like this may have happened , you can receive free, round-the-clock crisis support from the sexual assault crisis centre or the SAC.
Sexual assault crisis centres are located at West Tallinn Central Hospital, Tartu University Hospital, Pärnu Hospital, Ida-Viru Central Hospital and Kuressaare Hospital. At West Tallinn Central Hospital, you should go to the reception desk of the Women’s Health Clinic; at other hospitals, go to the Emergency Department, from where you will be referred to the SAC.
The support offered at the sexual assault crisis centre is free of charge and available to everyone, regardless of age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. You can seek help even if you are unsure of what happened, or if the suspicion of sexual violence has not yet been confirmed.
You can come on your own or with a trusted family member or friend.
The sooner you get in touch, the better. But it’s still worth seeking help even if you’ve washed yourself in the meantime, changed your clothes, or some time has passed since the incident.
You do not need to be able to describe exactly what happened or know what sort of help you need. You will be listened to, and the options available to you will be explained calmly. You decide what sort of help you want, and everything will be done with your consent.
Find your nearest SAC
In the event of immediate danger, call 112
Call the victim support helpline at 116 006 (24/7)
- How to find us?
To reach the SAC, go to the reception desk of the Women’s Health Clinic at West Tallinn Central Hospital; for other hospitals, go to the Emergency Department. Once there, briefly explain why you have come. This can be difficult in cases of sexual violence, or when you suspect it may have occurred. You can simply say that you wish to go to the sexual assault crisis centre. You can also say that you want to speak to a gynaecologist or that you have come because of violence you have experienced.
If you need emergency care, for example, due to bleeding or a suspected fracture, you will receive prompt assistance at the Emergency Department. You can wait safely in the reception area until you are referred to the sexual assault crisis centre.
Sexual assault crisis centres:
TALLINN
West Tallinn Central Hospital
Address: Sõle 23, Tallinn
Access: via Emergency Reception at the Women’s Health Clinic
Telephone: 5342 4724 (reception)
KOHTLA-JÄRVE
Ida-Viru Central Hospital
Address: Ilmajaama 12, Kohtla-Järve
Entry: via the Emergency Department (EMO).
Telephone: 331 1094 (maternity ward duty nurse).
PÄRNU
Pärnu Hospital
Address: Ristiku 1, Pärnu
Admission: via the Emergency Department (EMO)
Telephone: 447 3508 (Gynaecology Department)
TARTU
Tartu University Hospital
Address: L. Puusepa 8, Tartu
Admission: via the Emergency Department (EMO).
Telephone: 731 9954 (Gynaecology Department)
KURESSAARE
Kuressaare Hospital
Address: Aia 25, Kuressaare
Admission: via the Emergency Department (EMO).
Telephone: 452 0089 (Maternity and Gynaecology Department)
The centres operate 24 hours a day and assistance is free of charge.
If you are in danger, please go to a place where you are safe and secure.
In an emergency, and/or if you have serious injuries and need urgent medical attention, call 112.
- Why contact a SAC?
If you or someone close to you has experienced sexual violence, or if you suspect that something like this may have happened, you do not need to be able to describe exactly what happened or know what sort of help you need.
After experiencing sexual violence, it is natural to feel unsettled or afraid. Sometimes, you may not even know exactly what took place. What you have been through may feel unreal. Whatever you are feeling is a natural response, and everyone reacts in their own way. Some people feel guilty for not fighting back or running away. In a frightening situation, the brain can trigger a natural response known as ‘tonic immobility’. A person may feel as though they are freezing or detaching from the situation, unable to speak or move their arms or legs. This is natural – we do not choose this reaction; it happens automatically. It is good to know that not reacting was not a conscious choice; realising this may also help to alleviate the frequent feelings of guilt.
It’s helpful if we can briefly discuss what happened. But this isn’t always possible, as sometimes you can only remember part of what happened – or nothing at all – yet for some reason there is still a suspicion of sexual violence. You don’t have to know straight away what sort of support you want. At a SAC, we explain what support is available, offer encouragement and answer all your questions. Everyone can decide for themselves what sort of support they want – whether it’s all the support options available, some of them, or none at all.
Some forms of support, such as HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, evidence collection and contraception, need to be provided within a certain timeframe. It is therefore advisable to seek help as soon as possible, preferably within the first seven days. You should still seek help even if you have already washed yourself, changed your clothes, or cannot remember all the details of the incident.
At a SAC, you will receive support and care tailored to your needs, including:
initial counselling and support;
an assessment of your health and treatment for any injuries;
a medical examination and the collection of forensic evidence;
help with contraception;
testing for sexually transmitted infections and treatment where necessary;
post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV;
follow-up counselling and assistance in finding psychological or other support;
support in contacting the police.
Initial counselling
You will be listened to and the options available to you will be explained to you calmly.
At the hospital’s Emergency Department, you will first be seen by a nurse, midwife or other healthcare professional who understands the potential impact of sexual violence and is able to support you.
They will refer you to a sexual assault crisis centre.
At the crisis centre, you will be seen by a healthcare professional who has received specialised training. You will be given time, and they will explain what might happen next and what support options are available to you, allowing you to decide calmly what to do next. You can ask about anything that is worrying you. It is perfectly understandable if you find it difficult to follow what is happening, to formulate questions, or to take in all the information at once.
You do not need to be able to describe exactly what has happened or know straight away what sort of help you need. The healthcare professional will help you understand the options available, but the decisions are always yours to make.
Examination and gathering of evidence
The aim of the examination is to assess your health and to document and treat any injuries. At your request, evidence can be gathered which may later be used in police proceedings.
As one form of support, we offer a medical examination and the collection of evidence, as it is important to gain an overview of your state of health, to document and treat any injuries, and to gather evidence that can later be used in an investigation. Sometimes people feel anxious or uncomfortable about an examination. Your doctor and nurse/midwife have received specialist training to make the procedure as comfortable as possible and ensure that you are treated with dignity and respect. We will explain what will happen during the examination. You have the right and the option to decide to stop the examination at any time. You can ask for a friend or family member to be present during the examination.
During the examination:
the doctor will ask about your previous state of health;
they will check for any injuries;
help you decide whether you need help to prevent pregnancy (e.g. taking the morning-after pill);
will decide with you whether you need treatment to reduce the risk of contracting HIV or a sexually transmitted infection;
decide what evidence to collect (e.g. semen in the vagina, underwear, etc.);
will offer to collect urine and blood samples so that traces of drugs can be detected from them in the future, if necessary.
Help with preventing pregnancy
You will be offered help with preventing pregnancy. There are two options available for this: the morning-after pill and immediate insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD). Both methods are effective for three to five days after intercourse and are available to you free of charge. During the consultation, the doctor will suggest the best option for you. The morning-after pill reduces the risk of pregnancy if taken within 3–5 days after the incident. The sooner you take the morning-after pill, the more effective it is. An intrauterine device (IUD) can be fitted within 5 days of the incident.
STI testing and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV
You will receive advice on which tests and preventive treatment you may need, and when you should have repeat tests.
During sexual violence, there is a risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections. We will advise you on how and when it is advisable to be tested for STIs and whether you might need preventive treatment. You can be tested for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis. During the examination, a swab is taken from the throat, vagina or rectum, as appropriate. These infections can also be tested for using a urine sample. To test for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, a blood sample will be taken with your consent. You will need to be tested repeatedly, and your doctor will advise you on this.
In some cases, post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV is necessary, which reduces the likelihood of contracting HIV. The doctor will help you decide whether you need it. Treatment must be started within the first three days. If necessary, the doctor will also refer you to an infectious diseases specialist for further support and to monitor your treatment. The treatment lasts for 28 days.
If you have not been vaccinated against hepatitis B and your doctor considers vaccination necessary, you should begin the course as soon as possible. You will be referred to an infectious diseases specialist for this.
The tests and treatment are free of charge for you.
Follow-up care
A SAC’s crisis support does not end when you leave hospital: you will be invited back for follow-up appointments to support your health and recovery.
After providing initial care, we will invite you to see a gynaecologist or nurse again in 2–3 weeks and 3 months’ time for repeat testing for sexually transmitted infections (this is the only way we can confirm that you have not been infected). During these follow-up appointments, you’ll also be able to talk about how you’re feeling, get help to get back into your daily routine, and make sense of what has happened. If necessary, we’ll help you arrange an appointment with a psychologist or another specialist. Often, your loved ones will also need counselling to understand how they can best support you.
Support for reporting to the police
You will be supported if you wish to contact the police. Please give serious consideration to informing the police. It is up to you to decide whether or not you wish to initiate formal proceedings regarding what has happened, and whether you do so now or even years later. Reporting the matter to the police may help prevent the same perpetrator from harming someone else. Be sure to contact the police immediately if your life or health, or that of someone else, is at risk.
When seeking first aid, a healthcare professional will advise you on how to contact the police. When initiating formal proceedings and seeking legal assistance, you can be helped by a victim support worker and, if you are a woman, also by women’s support centres.
Victim support and mental health support
A victim support worker offers emotional support and helps you understand your rights and the support available to you. Together, you can calmly consider what you need right now and what kind of support would best help you.
If you wish to contact the police, a victim support worker can support you both in preparing for this and throughout the subsequent process. Regardless of your age, you can decide for yourself whether and when you wish to contact the police.
If you need psychological counselling or psychotherapy to help you recover from trauma, a victim support worker can explain your options and help you find a suitable psychologist.
After experiencing sexual violence, you may experience a wide range of feelings and reactions. You may feel anger, shame, sadness or fear; you may be afraid of being hurt again, or feel that you have to cope with what has happened on your own. Talking about what happened can be difficult, and you do not have to say more than you feel ready to. Psychological support can help you understand your feelings and reactions, restore a sense of safety, and find ways to cope with everyday life. You are not to blame for what happened.
Victim support workers can assist you with official procedures and legal aid, and women can also contact a women’s support centre. If necessary, you can obtain information about state-funded legal aid.
Information on obtaining legal aid
There is currently no separate network of providers of free legal aid for victims of sexual violence in Estonia.
Victim support workers can help you with initiating formal proceedings and obtaining legal aid, and if you are a woman, women’s support centres can also assist you.
The Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs organises state-funded free legal aid. There are several ways to obtain free legal aid or initial legal advice on preferential terms with state support. To receive state-funded initial legal advice, you can contact the service provider directly or apply for state legal aid, which is provided by solicitors.
It is also possible to consult a (fee-charging) legal adviser or solicitor.
A legal information chatbot is also available to everyone, providing legal information based on current legislation.
- Could what happened be sexual violence?
Sexual violence is sexual activity that takes place without a person’s consent.
This may include rape or attempted rape, unwanted touching, being pressured into sexual activity, or any other sexual act to which a person has not voluntarily consented.
Sexual violence can be committed by a stranger, an acquaintance, a partner, a spouse, a family member or a colleague. It can take place at home, at work, on a date or elsewhere.
The perpetrator is always responsible for sexual violence, not the person against whom the violence was committed.
- What is sexual consent?
Consent means that everyone involved in a sexual act has freely and clearly agreed to it.
To give consent, a person must have the freedom and capacity to make their own decision. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
Silence, freezing, fear, intoxication, sleep or a lack of resistance do not constitute consent.
Only ‘yes’ means ‘yes’.
- Coping after sexual violence
Sexual violence
People of any gender and any age can fall victim to sexual violence. The perpetrator of sexual violence may be a stranger or someone the victim knows. Sexual violence also occurs within close relationships – in dating relationships, cohabitation, marriage, within the family or between colleagues.
The perpetrator, not the victim, is responsible for sexual violence. The perpetrator is not driven by sexual desire, but primarily by a desire for power and domination.
Natural post-traumatic reactions
As a result of rape or an attempted rape, you may experience a range of emotions and post-traumatic reactions. Fear, feelings of guilt, shame and helplessness are common, as are sleep disturbances and nausea. The violence you have experienced and its details may resurface in disturbing flashbacks. You may experience memory problems and forgetfulness, and find it difficult to cope with everyday responsibilities. All these feelings and reactions are normal and natural; there is no single, definitive reaction to trauma caused by sexual violence.
Don’t face this alone
Reach out for help and ask someone you trust to support you. The presence of family or friends is important. Loved ones do not always know what kind of help and support a person who has experienced trauma needs; what has happened may also be distressing for them. Therefore, seek mental health support from professionals as well.
Talk and feel
You may feel that you want to forget what happened – this may provide temporary relief. Nevertheless, in order to heal, it is necessary to work through the feelings, memories and thoughts associated with the incident. Talking, writing or drawing can help. You may find it helpful to talk to someone about what happened, more than once if you need to, even if you feel ashamed of what happened or of how you feel. Creating a clearer picture of the sexual violence for yourself will help you bring the associated thoughts and feelings under control. Understanding your feelings and talking about them brings relief. Give your feelings space and time. Sadness, irritability, disappointment and anger are common. Even the strongest feelings are normal. But it is possible to recover from trauma. What happened does not determine your worth or your future.
Restoring your daily routine
Try to maintain your daily routine – this helps restore a sense of security. Make sure you eat and sleep enough. Consult your doctor; you may need medication to help you sleep for a while. You may find it difficult to work. If needed, your doctor can issue you with a certificate for sick leave. Treat yourself to something nice. Do things that have helped you cope with difficult situations in the past. Rest and relax as much as possible. Physical activity is important, as it helps the body recover from a stressful situation. From time to time, what has happened may feel distant and unreal – this allows your brain to rest and regain strength.
You have the right to report this to the police
Rape and other offences against sexual self-determination may constitute criminal offences even if the perpetrator is your partner or someone else close to you.
You have the right to report what has happened to the police. Regardless of your age, you can decide for yourself whether and when you wish to do so. Reporting the incident to the police can help protect you from further violence, hold the perpetrator to account, and reduce the risk of them harming someone else.
When you go to the police, you may ask someone you trust to accompany you. A victim support worker can support you as you prepare to report the incident and throughout the process. They can also help you find legal advice and other support you may need. Women can also contact a women’s support centre for help.
- Further information and support
Victim support helpline and 24-hour chat: www.palunabi.ee, call 116 006
Children’s helpline and 24-hour chat: https://www.lasteabi.ee/en, call 116 111
Police 112, ; to report a crime: https://www.politsei.ee/en/report-to-police
Victim support emotional helpline: call 116 123 (10–24), video counselling available by appointment https://www.palunabi.ee/en/emotional-support
Mental health support: https://peaasi.ee/en/, call 5190 3124 (Mon–Fri 9–13)
Youth counselling centres: free sexual health support in 13 towns and cities; appointments available both by booking in advance and on a first-come, first-served basis; contact details https://seksuaaltervis.ee/noorte-noustamiskeskused/
Talk to someone you trust: a parent, family member, friend, GP, specialist doctor or psychologist.
Find out more about the assistance available from SAK:
This video introduces the support available at sexual assault centres and explains where to go and what to expect when you arrive.
- Arriving at the hospital
- Initial counselling
- Medical care and evidence collection
- Follow-up appointments
- Ongoing support