Safe HelpRoom

What is Safe HelpRoom?

Safe HelpRoom is a group chat service that allows survivors of sexual assault in the military to connect with and support one another in a moderated and secure online environment at SafeHelpRoom.org. Safe Helpline's top priority is your safety. Because of that, we designed Safe HelpRoom from the ground up, so that you remain completely anonymous and your participation in a Safe HelpRoom discussion is confidential. Safe HelpRoom discussions have a moderator who can provide referrals and help keep the conversation focused on survivors' needs as well as a reviewer who ensures all participants adhere to the Ground Rules.

What are the Available Topics?

Safe Helpline hosts topic-specific Safe HelpRoom sessions throughout the month.

Coping After Sexual Violence/Assault - In this moderated support group, the primary focus will be on coping after sexual violence and sexual assault. The moderator will gently guide the conversation, encouraging participants to explore and share healthy coping strategies that support healing.

“Coping” refers to the use of specific skills and strategies to manage painful or distressing experiences. The goal of coping is to reduce emotional distress and gradually improve one’s overall well-being. During the group chat, the moderator may help define what coping means, invite reflection through open-ended questions, and share suggestions based on approaches other survivors have found helpful. The moderator will respond with empathy and support to any disclosures shared within the group.

Sexual violence is a broad, non-legal term for a long range of harmful acts that violate a person’s autonomy and safety.

While sexual assault is a legal term that varies in definition across states, it is also a deeply personal experience; one that only you can define. It may have involved a situation where you said “yes” to one thing but “no” to something else, where you were unable to consent due to impairment, or where you felt pressured or obligated despite refusing. Though legal systems define “sexual assault,” within this group chat, you define what happened to you.

Participants are welcome to share as much or as little as they feel comfortable, including coping strategies they’ve used, techniques they’re curious to try, or tools that have worked for them in specific situations.

You’re invited to join this moderated group chat knowing that coping is not a one-size-fits all set of skills. Your journey is unique, and what works for you today may shift and evolve over time.

You are not alone in this. Choosing to connect with others after experiencing a violation is a powerful act of courage. It reflects your resilience and your commitment to moving toward healing.

Sexual Assault Disclosure & Planning - In this confidential, peer-led support group, the focus will be on sexual assault disclosure and planning. The moderator will guide the conversation by encouraging participants to identify their safe social supports, explore what validation and support look like and consider how support systems can be most helpful.

This Safe HelpRoom topic is a space to explore the process of disclosure and reporting. Designed for service members, this group helps participants understand their options for reporting military sexual trauma while providing emotional support and peer connection.

Safe HelpRoom is not a clinical or investigative setting—it is a confidential peer-led support group where survivors can share, listen, and ask questions without pressure or judgment.

“Disclosure” refers to sharing your survival story and/or experience. “Planning” involves preparing for emotions, questions, and thoughts that may arise throughout the process. Participants are invited to reflect on who in their life feels safe to disclose to, envision environments where they might feel most supported, and frame their story in ways that highlight their power and resilience. You are invited to join this group knowing that disclosure is a courageous step. There may never be a perfect time but your story is powerful. The very act of considering sharing is a sign of your strength. With preparation and support, you can feel more equipped to navigate the disclosure process with confidence and care.

Men’s Group - In this confidential, peer-led support group, the focus will be creating a non-judgemental space for men to connect through shared experiences, receive validation and affirmation and find strength in community. This support group is guided by a trained facilitator who will foster a supportive and respectful space for healing and connection.

Sexual assault can happen to anyone. Men who have been sexually assaulted, during adulthood or childhood, may experience anxiety, depression, fear, avoidance, shame, anger, self-blame, isolation or various responses. They are not alone.

Men also face unique challenges related to masculinity and societal expectations. Someone’s choice to hurt them is not a reflection of their masculinity. What happened to them was not their fault and they deserve support and understanding.

You are invited to join this group knowing that your emotional, physical, and social responses are valid and normal. While there is no single path to recovery, there are many ways to heal. Being in a safe and supportive environment can be an important step on that journey.

What are the Safe HelpRoom Ground Rules?

Safe HelpRoom participants are asked to follow ground rules before entering a Safe HelpRoom session. The rules are in place to ensure the safety and anonymity of all users. If a participant violates a ground rule, the Safe Helpline staff moderator will connect with them privately to address any issues or concerns.

• Please participate! Safe HelpRoom discussions are only productive if participants share and talk with one another
• Please do not provide any personally identifying information. This includes information like your name, address, email address, etc. This also includes information pertaining to other individuals including a perpetrator, supervisor, etc.
• Please do not request personally identifying information from other participants.
• Please refrain from using abusive, graphic or inappropriate language

The Safe HelpRoom does not provide psychological or behavioral health services. Please do not use the Safe HelpRoom as a substitute for professional healthcare.

Please note, the Safe HelpRoom is intended for participants ages 18 and older, specifically those who are Active-Duty Service members in the Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve Component consistent with Department of Defense (DoD) Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Policy as well as members of the U.S. Coast Guard and Transitioning Service members.

How we made the Safe HelpRoom Secure and Anonymous:

• We do not capture your IP address once you enter the Safe HelpRoom. This means that we have no record that you were ever here.
• We do not save a transcript of Safe HelpRoom discussions. Once you close your chat window, that text is not retrievable.
• We do not allow participants to share any personally - identifying information while in a Safe HelpRoom discussion.
• Safe HelpRoom moderators have the ability to block messages that violate the Ground Rules. Messages that may be blocked or edited include those that contain personal information or inappropriate content that could be disruptive or harmful to other participants.
• While RAINN operates the Safe Helpline under contract from the DoD, we will not share any personally identifying information about your visit to DoD or your chain of command, unless required by law. To learn more, visit the Terms of Service Full Text of Agreements "How We May Share Information" section.

Is Safety Guaranteed?

• No. We have taken extensive precautions to ensure your safety, but we cannot guarantee that someone will not invent a way to circumvent these protections. While we can't eliminate every risk, we have greatly minimized the risks and made it as safe to use as a telephone helpline.
• Also, keep in mind that if you are using a DoD or other work-related computer, your employer may be able to track your usage of this and other websites.

To help support the work of local SAPR Programs, Safe Helpline launched a new program, Local Safe HelpRoom which allows D-SAACP (NACP for U.S Coast Guard) certified SARCs or SAPR VAs to host their own local Safe HelpRoom group chats. Once trained, local hosts can offer tailored assistance for their community with an individual topic, convenient time, specific group, and discussion structure of their choosing that best fits the needs of the local population. To learn more about becoming a Local Safe HelpRoom moderator, please visit the Local Safe HelpRoom webpage.