Sexual violence crisis support centers
In the event of a sexual assault, rape, or suspicion thereof, everyone has the right to contact the sexual violence crisis support center for help.
- Contact the center if you have experienced sexual violence in the last seven days.
- All people can come to the center, regardless of their gender or age.
- You can come alone or with a companion.
- The centers are open 24 hours a day.
- No referral is needed.
- It is not necessary to go to the police for help.
Contacts
TALLINN, West Tallinn Central Hospital
Address: Sõle 23, Tallinn
Entry: through the emergency reception of the women's clinic
Telephone: 53424724 ( reception)
KOHTLA-JÄRVE, Ida-Viru Central Hospital
Address: Ilmajaama 12, Kohtla-Järve
Entry: through the Center of Emergency Medicine.
Telephone: 3311094 (duty nurse of the maternity ward).
PÄRNU, Pärnu Hospital
Address: Ristiku 1, Pärnu
Entry: through the Center of Emergency Medicine.
Telephone: 4473393
TARTU, Tartu University Hospital
Address: L. Puusepa 8, Tartu
Entry: through the Center of Emergency Medicine.
Telephone: 7319954 (gynecology department)
If you do not live in this area, contact the nearest crisis support center and, if necessary, ask for help from the police at 112.
- Why contact the sexual violence crisis support center?
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At the sexual violence crisis support center:
- you will be heard, supported, and advised;
- you will be offered a medical examination with collection of evidence in case you want to contact the police later;
- you are offered help in preventing pregnancy;
- you are provided testing for sexually transmitted diseases and post-exposure HIV treatment;
- you will be supported if you want to contact the police;
- if necessary, you will be offered a referral to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other specialist;
- examinations and treatment are free;
After providing primary aid, we will arrange a time for the next meeting with you so that we can support you in resuming your daily routine and help you understand what exactly happened. In addition, we will check your physical and mental health and give instructions and guidelines if necessary, and if necessary, we can refer you to a necessary specialist. Sometimes, it is necessary to counsel your loved ones to help them better understand how they can support you and contribute to your recovery.
Read more about coping after sexual violence.
Initial consultation and medical examination with collection of evidence
Sexual violence crisis support centers are located in hospitals, where you will be received by a health worker with appropriate training. You will be given information and told what help options are available for you, and you can decide for yourself what to do next.
As one of the ways to help, we provide a medical examination and collection of evidence because it is important to get an overview of your health, describe and treat your injuries, and collect evidence that can later be used in the investigation.
You will be explained what will happen during the examination. You have the right and the opportunity to decide to end the examination at any moment. You can ask your friend or family member to be present at the examination.
During the examination:
– the doctor or nurse/midwife will ask about your previous state of health;
– check you for possible injuries;
– help you to decide if help is needed to prevent pregnancy (e.g., to take SOS pills);
– decide together with you whether you need treatment to reduce the possibility of infection with HIV or a sexually transmitted disease;
– decide what evidence to collect (e.g., semen in the vagina, panties, etc.);
– offer you to collect urine and venous blood in order to determine traces of drugs there in the future.
Help with preventing pregnancy
If there is a risk of pregnancy as a result of sexual violence, we offer help in preventing pregnancy. There are two ways to do this: SOS pills and immediate IUD insertion. SOS pills reduce the risk of pregnancy if taken within three to five days of the incident. The sooner SOS pills are taken, the more effective they are. We can give you free SOS pills. Insertion of an intrauterine device (also free) within five days of the incident effectively prevents pregnancy. During the consultation, the doctor will recommend the best option for you.
STD testing
In the course of sexual violence, there is a risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. We advise how and when it is appropriate to test yourself for STDs and whether you might need preventive treatment. You can be tested for chlamydiosis, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis: during the examination, discharge is collected from the pharynx, vagina or anus with a cotton swab. The same tests can also be performed on urine. With your consent, a blood sample will be taken to test for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. It is necessary to test repeatedly, and your doctor will advise you about this.
In some cases, HIV post-exposure treatment is necessary to reduce the likelihood of contracting HIV. The doctor will help you decide if you need it. Treatment must be started within the first three days, and the doctor will refer you to an infectious diseases doctor to support and monitor the treatment. Treatment lasts 28 days.
If you have not been vaccinated against hepatitis B and, according to your doctor, you need it, you must start vaccination as soon as possible (within six weeks at the latest) - for this, you will be referred to an infectious diseases doctor.
Examinations and treatment are free for you.
Follow-up support
Our healthcare workers have received special training to help survivors of sexual violence. It is natural to feel anger, shame, sadness, fear of being hurt again, or feel that you have to deal on your own with what happened. It can be difficult to talk about what happened, but by sharing what happened with experts/specialists in their field, you will be helped to understand that what happened was not your fault, and you will receive instructions on how to proceed and how to feel safe again.
After providing primary aid, we invite you again to the gynecologist so that you can share your feelings, get help to restore the daily rhythm, and understand what happened. If necessary, the gynecologist will help you see a psychologist or another specialist. Your loved ones also often need counseling to understand how to better support you. You are offered the opportunity to attend psychological counseling regularly for some time and at a time that suits you. Even if you feel reluctant to go to counseling appointments at first, you may find over time that counseling is more and more helpful and that it supports your recovery.
Support when contacting the police
Seriously, consider notifying the police. It is up to you whether or not you wish to initiate formal proceedings regarding the incident, as well as whether you do so now or even years later. By making things official with the help of the police, you help ensure that no one else becomes a victim of the same perpetrator. Be sure to contact the police immediately if your or someone else's life and health is in danger.
When you seek primary aid, a healthcare worker will give you advice on how to contact the police and how procedures are carried out there. Take a close person you trust with you when you go to the police. Ask for advice on where to get legal advice and help.
Victim support workers and, if you are a woman, women's support centers can help you when starting an official procedure and getting legal help.
You can contact the sexual violence crisis support center directly 24 hours a day or go first to the police, who will then take you to the hospital for primary aid. You can get a referral from your family doctor or another specialist. You have the right to get help first and then decide if and when to contact the police.