HelpLine Launches Sexual Assault Awareness Month with “Start by Believing” Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Delaware, OH – April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and HelpLine’s Sexual Assault & Victim Services (SAVS), in collaboration with the HelpLine Prevention Department, is leading a community-wide effort to promote this year’s theme: “Start by Believing.”

Originally developed by End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI), the Start by Believing campaign challenges harmful victim-blaming attitudes and emphasizes the critical role that supportive, affirming responses play when survivors disclose sexual assault. The campaign encourages individuals, organizations, and communities to respond with belief, compassion, and action, helping pave the way toward healing and justice.

This year marks a strengthened, collaborative approach as HelpLine SAVS and the Prevention Department unite their expertise to expand outreach, education, and community engagement efforts throughout April.

“Survivors often turn first to someone they know and trust,” said Christina Jones, Sexual Assault & Victim Services Director. “How that person responds can shape whether a survivor feels supported or silenced. When we start by believing, we strengthen the entire system of care and create pathways for healing, justice, and connection.”

Dyesha Darby, Director of School-Based and Community Prevention, emphasized the importance of prevention and community education in shifting long-term outcomes. “Prevention starts with changing norms—how we talk about sexual violence, how we respond to survivors, and how we educate our communities. Partnering with SARN for SAAM allows us to not only support survivors but also equip individuals with the tools to prevent violence before it occurs.”

Research shows that as few as 1 in 5 sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement, and survivors are significantly more likely to disclose to friends, family members, or trusted individuals first. This makes community awareness and response a critical component of survivor support.

Throughout April, HelpLine will host and participate in a series of events designed to raise awareness, foster community engagement, and support survivors:

• April 7 – SAAM Day of Action: Wear Teal
  Community members are encouraged to wear teal to show support for survivors and raise awareness about sexual violence prevention.
• April 8 – Wear Blue for Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness
  A complementary awareness effort highlighting the intersection of prevention and early intervention.
• April 14 – HelpLine Sexual Assault Awareness Network (SARN) Community Awareness & Action Event (6–8 PM)
  An evening of awareness and action, highlighting “Start by Believing” will feature guest speaker Superintendent Bruce Pijanowski, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and provide education, resources, and opportunities for community involvement. The event will be held at HelpLine, 118 Stover Drive, Suite B, Delaware.
• April 28 – Denim Day at Ohio Wesleyan University (11:30 AM – 1:30 PM)
  HelpLine SARN will partner with Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) to host a campus awareness event featuring educational activities, resources, and survivor support messaging. The event will be on the OWU Jaywalk in front of the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center.

In addition, HelpLine will run a month-long social media campaign using hashtags such as #StartByBelieving, #HelpLineSARN, and #SAAM2026, sharing resources, survivor-centered messaging, and ways the community can act.

Beyond SAAM, HelpLine’s SARN program provides year-round, trauma-informed services to survivors of sexual violence, including crisis intervention, advocacy, hospital accompaniment, support groups, and community education. Services are available to all survivors, regardless of when the assault occurred.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, HelpLine offers free, confidential, 24/7 support. Call 1.800.684.2324 or text helpline to 898211 to connect with a trained specialist.

“Collectively, we have the power to change how our community responds to sexual violence,” Jones added. “It starts with one simple but powerful action, believing.”

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About HelpLine
As the community’s only 24/7 resource, HelpLine is the go-to for supporting and empowering change. Our highly trained specialists offer compassionate support to help meet the needs of anyone in crisis, connecting them with the right resources and empowering them to thrive. Our prevention programs address suicide and depression, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and family violence to influence change in our community. Rooted in strong partnerships with local nonprofits and agencies, HelpLine connects community members with the support, education, and volunteer opportunities they need to live healthy, connected lives. For more information, visit helplinedelmor.org.

Contact:
Tamika Vinson-Reid,
Marketing and Development Director
HelpLine
P:  740.363.1835, ext. 305
F:  740.369.0358
E:  tvinson@helplinedelmor.org
W: helplinedelmor.org