If You Need Help Right Now
If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, please call 911. And if you just need someone to talk to right now, these free, confidential lines are available any time, day or night:- RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 1-800-656-4673 (1-800-656-HOPE), free and confidential, around the clock. You can also reach a trained staff member through online chat at online.rainn.org.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is just a call or text away at 988, free and confidential, for anyone going through emotional distress or crisis.
- Pennsylvania ChildLine is available at 1-800-932-0313, a 24/7 line for reporting suspected child abuse anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Help That’s There When You Need It
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual-violence organization, and it exists for people exactly like you. Their hotline (1-800-656-4673) and secure online chat (online.rainn.org) connect you with a trained staff member, confidentially and at no cost. They can help with referrals to local support, medical care, and counseling, wherever you are. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is also there any time you need someone to listen, just call or text 988.Local Support Across Pennsylvania
PA ChildLine (1-800-932-0313) runs a 24/7 line available anywhere in Pennsylvania for reporting suspected child abuse. The Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR) supports a statewide network of local sexual-assault centers offering free, confidential counseling, advocacy, and support groups in communities throughout the state. RAINN or your county can help you find the center closest to you. Your local center can also accompany you to medical or legal appointments whenever you feel ready for that kind of support.There’s No Right Way to Feel
There is no single “right” way to feel, and no timeline you are supposed to follow. Survivors carry many different emotions. Many wait years or even decades before telling anyone, and that is completely normal. It does not change what happened, and it does not change whether you deserve support. Reaching out for help is not a commitment to anything else. It is simply a step toward feeling a little less alone. You set the pace.Understanding Your Legal Options
You can explore your legal options gently, on your own terms, and entirely separately from seeking emotional support. A civil case is different from a criminal one: it lets a survivor hold an abuser and the institution that enabled the abuse accountable, and it does not require a criminal charge or conviction. You do not need to have reported the abuse when it happened. Pennsylvania has specific time limits for these claims, and they have changed in recent years, so the most reliable way to understand where you stand is a free, confidential conversation, not a guess from a website.Your Privacy. Your Pace.
Anything you share with us is confidential, and you decide how much to say and when. Talking to a resource line, a counselor, or an attorney does not obligate you to anything at all. Whatever you decide, and whenever you decide it, support is here. There’s no pressure, no obligation, and no rush. Whether you reach out today or simply save this page for later, we’re here whenever you’re ready.Frequently asked questions
What is the national sexual assault hotline number?
RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-4673 (1-800-656-HOPE). It is free, confidential, and available 24/7, and you can also chat online at online.rainn.org. A trained staff member can connect you with local support, medical care, and counseling.
How do I report child abuse in Pennsylvania?
Call Pennsylvania ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313, the state's 24/7 hotline for reporting suspected child abuse. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 first.
Who can I call if I am in crisis right now?
Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 — it is free, confidential, and available 24/7 for anyone in emotional distress. For sexual-assault-specific support, call RAINN at 1-800-656-4673. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Is it too late to get help if the abuse happened years ago?
No. Many survivors wait years or decades before reaching out, and support is available no matter how much time has passed. Emotional support has no deadline, and your legal options may still be open too — a free, confidential conversation can tell you where you stand.
Will reaching out for help cost anything or obligate me to anything?
No. The hotlines listed here are free and confidential, and a consultation with Survivors of Abuse PA is free with no obligation. Reaching out for support does not commit you to taking any legal action.
Serving sexual abuse survivors across Pennsylvania
Ashley DiLiberto represents survivors statewide. Explore help in your area:
