Where to Find Help
UPDATED November 7, 2007
There are a variety of support services available to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault on the Internet. We have listed some of these resources below.
Please keep safety in mind as you are using these resources. Only some of them are moderated and screened. Many of the message and discussion boards can be accessed by anyone on the Internet. Never post your real name or contact information to a chatroom or message board. If a resource requires that you choose a username, pick a name that does not include your real name. If you have to sign up using your email address, be sure to use a safe email address. It is also best to use a computer your abuser does not have access to. For more information, visit our Internet Security page.
Please note: WomensLaw.org has no relationship with these websites and cannot vouch for their safety or credibility. We provide these links for your information.
AfterSilence.org
http://www.aftersilence.org
After Silence is a non-profit organization, message board and chat room for rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse survivors. Their mission is to support, empower, validate, and educate survivors, as well as their families and supporters. The core of the organization is a message board and chat room where victims and survivors come together online in a mutually supportive and safe environment.
Love is Respect - National Teen Dating Helpline
http://loveisrespect.org/
A national resource that can be accessed by phone or the internet. The Helpline and loveisrespect.org offer real-time one-on-one support from trained Peer Advocates. The National Domestic Violence Hotline operates loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline from their call center in Austin, TX.
Peer Advocates are trained to offer support, information and advocacy to those involved in dating abuse relationships as well as concerned parents, teachers, clergy, law enforcement, and service providers.
MD Advice
www.mdadvice.com/ischedule.htm
MD Advice has various chat support groups that meet on a weekly basis. Visitors can interact and share experiences, concerns, worries, ideas, problems, conflicts, suggestions, and other information regarding health issues with other members on the conditions they have been affected by. There is a weekly chat for victims of domestic abuse Sundays at 11 PM, Eastern Time. Please check the web site above for any changes to the schedule.
Rhiannon3.net
http://www.rhiannon3.net
Run by a survivor of domestic violence, Rhiannon3.net offers several message boards and chats. The message boards are publicly accessible - you do not have to log in or join to view the message boards. The chatrooms have both scheduled topics and "open" chat times.
Teen Chat - For Teens, By Teens
www.teenrelationships.org
Teen Chat provides a chatroom and information for teens who may be involved in a violent relationship. It also provides help to teens who think a friend may need help. Their chatroom is moderated by trained facilitators, who are teens. The chatroom hours are Monday and Wednesday, 5PM-7PM Pacific Time. Please check the website above for any changes to the schedule.
Witness Justice
www.witnessjustice.org/virtualCommunity/
Witness Justice provides an online community for survivors of violent crime, including domestic violence. You do not have to sign in to view their discussion boards; however, you do have to sign-in to post on their discussion boards.
YesICAN
www.yesican.org/chat.html
The Yes ICAN chat room is to be used by individuals who wish to discuss issues around surviving child abuse, parenting and domestic violence. The YesICAN chat room is available to those who need support. It is not to be used by individuals who are in need of information for a term paper or research.
YesICAN chats are facilitated by trained facilitators. There are scheduled times for various subjects, including teen survivors, male survivors, female survivors, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, incest survivors, significant others, and parenting. Please go to their website for full details and the schedule.
Please keep safety in mind as you are using these resources. Only some of them are moderated and screened. Many of the message and discussion boards can be accessed by anyone on the Internet. Never post your real name or contact information to a chatroom or message board. If a resource requires that you choose a username, pick a name that does not include your real name. If you have to sign up using your email address, be sure to use a safe email address. It is also best to use a computer your abuser does not have access to. For more information, visit our Internet Security page.
Please note: WomensLaw.org has no relationship with these websites and cannot vouch for their safety or credibility. We provide these links for your information.
AfterSilence.org
http://www.aftersilence.org
After Silence is a non-profit organization, message board and chat room for rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse survivors. Their mission is to support, empower, validate, and educate survivors, as well as their families and supporters. The core of the organization is a message board and chat room where victims and survivors come together online in a mutually supportive and safe environment.
Love is Respect - National Teen Dating Helpline
http://loveisrespect.org/
A national resource that can be accessed by phone or the internet. The Helpline and loveisrespect.org offer real-time one-on-one support from trained Peer Advocates. The National Domestic Violence Hotline operates loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline from their call center in Austin, TX.
Peer Advocates are trained to offer support, information and advocacy to those involved in dating abuse relationships as well as concerned parents, teachers, clergy, law enforcement, and service providers.
MD Advice
www.mdadvice.com/ischedule.htm
MD Advice has various chat support groups that meet on a weekly basis. Visitors can interact and share experiences, concerns, worries, ideas, problems, conflicts, suggestions, and other information regarding health issues with other members on the conditions they have been affected by. There is a weekly chat for victims of domestic abuse Sundays at 11 PM, Eastern Time. Please check the web site above for any changes to the schedule.
Rhiannon3.net
http://www.rhiannon3.net
Run by a survivor of domestic violence, Rhiannon3.net offers several message boards and chats. The message boards are publicly accessible - you do not have to log in or join to view the message boards. The chatrooms have both scheduled topics and "open" chat times.
Teen Chat - For Teens, By Teens
www.teenrelationships.org
Teen Chat provides a chatroom and information for teens who may be involved in a violent relationship. It also provides help to teens who think a friend may need help. Their chatroom is moderated by trained facilitators, who are teens. The chatroom hours are Monday and Wednesday, 5PM-7PM Pacific Time. Please check the website above for any changes to the schedule.
Witness Justice
www.witnessjustice.org/virtualCommunity/
Witness Justice provides an online community for survivors of violent crime, including domestic violence. You do not have to sign in to view their discussion boards; however, you do have to sign-in to post on their discussion boards.
YesICAN
www.yesican.org/chat.html
The Yes ICAN chat room is to be used by individuals who wish to discuss issues around surviving child abuse, parenting and domestic violence. The YesICAN chat room is available to those who need support. It is not to be used by individuals who are in need of information for a term paper or research.
YesICAN chats are facilitated by trained facilitators. There are scheduled times for various subjects, including teen survivors, male survivors, female survivors, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, incest survivors, significant others, and parenting. Please go to their website for full details and the schedule.