HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Nearly 75 percent of sexual assaults occur with current or former dating partners, while 25 percent of those cases happen with strangers, according to a victims advocate with the Contact 24 Rape Crisis Center in West Virginia.
“According to a national 2010 study, about 40 percent (of those crimes) are reported,” said advocate Liz Deal on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
The center, which is one of nine facilities statewide, covers Cabell, Lincoln, Wayne and Mason counties. Sharon Pressman, the executive director of the center, says they are looking for volunteers to provide services to victims of sexual assault and stalking.
“Sometimes there could be an assault and we’re the only person that the victim speaks with or they may go to law enforcement and that may be the only place that it is reported,” said Pressman, who was also a guest on “Talkline.”
Pressman said talking about the problem is the first step of the healing process.
“Keeping it internalized, it never really goes away. By releasing it, talking to people and maybe getting sort of justice helps. It’s just a matter of figuring out how you can deal with this horrible thing that’s happened to you,” she said.
Deal said they are looking for volunteers who are empathetic. They want someone who is a good listener, someone who cares about others and someone who is interested in what the victim has to say.
“They just need someone they can talk to, so that they can get back to sleep or get their lives sorted out a little bit before they take whatever the next step is,” Deal said about the volunteers who work on their hotline.
Those who do not take part in answering phone calls can organize office materials, make flyers, work on computers, create presentations for prevention education events at schools and in communities.
To become a volunteer at any one of the nine centers, visit www.fris.org, To volunteer at the center in Huntington call 304-523-3447, email advocate@contacthuntington.com or visit their website at www.contacthuntington.com.
For victims of sexual assault, call the 304-399-1111 or 1-866-399-7273. The national phone number is 1-800-656-HOPE, which will direct you to your local center.