​How can our services, including chat and text, help you?   

• ​​Free, private support from a trained sexual assault advocate
• A chance to talk about what happened, how you’re feeling, and what you need now
• Information & resources that can help you with next steps in healing and recovery 
• Referrals for longer-term support where you live (mental health help, legal, police, or healthcare) ​                 

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Chat is available Monday-Wednesday from 10 am-8 pm & Thursday-Friday 12pm-8pm*
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*Beginning 01/11/2021, the statewide text/chat service will be undergoing maintenance and will not be available at this time. To get connected to an advocate, call the Maine Sexual Assault Helpline at 1-800-871-7741. Support is available 24/7.

When you click “chat,” you are agreeing to our terms.

Note: We are mandated reporters. That means we have to follow Maine state reporting laws. If we think you are under 18 and you tell us any information that makes us think you are being abused or neglected, we may have to share this with other adults to help keep you safe. However, we will never ask you for identifying information. including your age. You can share whatever information you feel comfortable sharing.

Do you have questions? Read below to see if we can answer them!
​If not, please contact us and we will answer your question as soon as we can.       

                                                                                                                                                                                                            
How does the text/chat work? What can I expect?
This works like other instant messaging services you may have seen before, but it has more safety and security features. You will enter a live, private chat session with a trained advocate, where you can begin sending messages to each other. The chat is completely anonymous. You can share as much as you would like. During your chat, an advocate will listen, support you, and help you find other resources if you want them. When you want to end the chat, click “End Chat.” The chat window will disappear and your conversation will be deleted. No record of your conversation will be kept. You can also choose to click the “Quick Escape” button anytime during a chat. This button will end the chat and send you to the Google homepage.

Will you have to report if I tell you what happened?
We are mandated reporters. That means we have to follow Maine state reporting laws. If we think you are under 18 and you tell us any information that makes us think you are being abused or neglected, we may have to share this with other adults to help keep you safe. However, we will never ask you for identifying information. including your age. You can share whatever information you feel comfortable sharing.

When will the text/chat helpline be available?
Advocates will be on the text/chat helpline on weekdays (Monday through Friday): Monday-Wednesday 10am-8pm & Thursday-Friday 12pm-8pm.

How much do text/chat services cost?
Texts to the Helpline will cost the same as any other texts your send and receive. If you use a cell phone or tablet to access our chat services, other data costs may apply.

Will text/chat services appear on my phone bill?
It depends on your phone service provider. Someone reading your phone bill may be able to see that you have texted with us. Please consider this when thinking about your privacy and safety.
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A majority of this project is supported by Grant No. VS-03-16 awarded by the Maine Dept. of Public Safety. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed by this project are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views, position or policies of the Maine Department of Public Safety. An additional amount of federal funds through the Maine Department of Health and Human Services also supports this project.