Victim Support Resources

National resources

• National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — dial 988 (call or text)
• Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741
• National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1-800-799-7233
• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline — 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
• National Human Trafficking Hotline — 1-888-373-7888

If you are a teenager

You can contact any of these services yourself. You do not need a parent to call for you, and you do not need to have told anyone else first.

• loveisrespect (dating abuse, for teens and young adults) — 1-866-331-9474, or text LOVEIS to 22522
• The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ young people) — 1-866-488-7386, or text START to 678-678

If an image of you has been shared

Two free services exist specifically for this, and both work without you sending the image to anyone. Your device creates a digital fingerprint of the image, and only that fingerprint is submitted, so participating platforms can detect and remove copies.

• Take It Down (NCMEC) — for images taken of you when you were under 18. Free and anonymous.
• StopNCII — the equivalent service for images taken at 18 or older.

These services cover participating platforms rather than the entire internet, and an altered version of an image needs a fresh submission. But the common assumption that an image online is permanently beyond recall is not accurate, and it is worth knowing that before deciding nothing can be done.

If someone is threatening to share images unless you send more, or pay them, that is sextortion — a crime committed against you. It can be reported to NCMEC’s CyberTipline or to the FBI. People who do this rely on the target being too embarrassed to tell anyone, and complying with demands does not stop them.

What to expect when you contact a hotline

You do not have to give your name, explain everything that happened, or have decided whether to report anything. Advocates are there to talk through options, not to direct you toward a particular one. You can stop the conversation at any point.

One thing worth knowing in advance: some professionals — including teachers, doctors, counsellors and coaches — are mandatory reporters, meaning they are legally required to pass on certain disclosures involving minors. National hotlines generally are not, which is part of why they exist. If confidentiality matters to you, it is reasonable to ask about it at the start of any conversation, and asking is not an unusual or suspicious thing to do.

Medical care and evidence

Medical care is available regardless of whether you want to report anything to police. A forensic examination can be carried out and the evidence stored while you decide, and in many places it can be done without your name being attached. There is a time element to some kinds of evidence collection, so if this may matter to you it is worth asking sooner rather than later — but it is your decision, and declining it does not close off other options.

State victim compensation

Every U.S. state operates a victim compensation program covering costs such as medical care, mental health treatment, and lost wages for survivors of crime. These programs are underused, largely because people do not know they exist. Search for “[your state] victim compensation program” or contact your state attorney general’s office. Requirements differ by state, and some have deadlines, so it is worth checking the specifics early even if you are unsure whether you want to apply.

Legal help

The legal aid directory covers free and low-cost representation, and the lawyer directory is organised by state. Many areas also have victim advocates who can accompany you through legal or medical processes at no cost, and hotline staff can usually point you toward one locally.