Service map for those who have experienced sexual violence in the Turku region

What to do if you have experienced sexual violence?

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What happened?
How old are you?
When did it happen?
What kind of help is available?

What kind of help is available?

Sexual violence affects you in many ways. Sexual violence can often cause feelings of guilt and shame, which may prevent the person from talking about the incident and seeking help. Even if it feels hard to talk about what happened, don’t try to cope with it on your own.

Learn more about the impact of sexual violence on the Naistalo website (in Finnish) »

I don’t feel good and I need help

Experiencing sexual violence can cause a variety of symptoms, such as difficulty sleeping and concentrating, anxiety, low mood and changes in thoughts and behaviour. You can get help with all these things.

I want to talk to someone about an experience of sexual violence

If you want to talk about your experience, you can contact your health centre, health services for students or employees or private service providers. Various organisations in the Turku region also offer short-term counselling related to experiences of sexual violence:

  • Koski sexual violence programme of MIELI Kriisikeskus Turku (Turku crisis centre) (page in Finnish). The counselling is free of charge and designed to offer short-term support in a crisis. The service is intended for persons of any gender who are over the age of 16.
  • Sexual violence programme of Turun Tyttöjen Talo (page in Finnish). The service is intended for girls/women aged 13–29, taking gender diversity into account. The appointments are free of charge.
  • See more Helplines and chats »

Some services may not be available in English. Please check the languages available at that time before making an appointment.

For minors, seeking help from school health care may feel easiest and most comfortable. School health care workers are also trained to offer support for pupils who have experienced sexual violence.

An underage victim of sexual violence can also seek counselling through the Anchor programme. The police usually guide victims to the Anchor programme, but the workers can also be contacted directly.

In some cases, the person may have been in a difficult situation or suffered from poor mental health even before experiencing sexual violence. In that case, experiencing sexual violence is likely to make them feel even worse. In some situations, life as a whole can feel chaotic and sexual violence may seem like just another awful experience among many. In situations like this, if you need help more comprehensively in your life or want to process a pre-existing mental health issue, the best way to find help is to contact your health centre.

I already have a treatment contact for mental health issues

If you already have a treatment relationship, such as psychotherapy or counselling sessions with another professional, you can also discuss your experience of sexual violence at your usual appointment. In many cases, a trusting and safe relationship with an already familiar worker can help to deal with a difficult issue. Even if you usually talk about other things, you can tell the familiar worker about your experience. When talking about sexual violence, it can be helpful, for example, to write down your thoughts on paper before your appointment and bring your notes with you.

If you have a history of mental health issues or a diagnosis of a mental disorder, an experience of sexual violence may worsen your previous symptoms. This is normal, but it is a good idea to consult your doctor about revising your medication. If you have an existing treatment contact, contact them first. If there are no previous contacts, you can contact your health centre.

I’m worried about my use of alcohol or drugs

A crisis situation can also sometimes make you notice that your substance use is not under control. If you are even a little concerned about your use of alcohol or drugs, contact your health centre or a substance abuse organisation. In the Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland there are easily accessible substance abuse services that offer advice and support.

Mental health and substance abuse services » (page in Finnish)

In an acute situation, contact your health centre or Tyks Acute, the emergency clinic of Turku University Hospital. It is important to always call before arriving at the emergency clinic.

Some services may not be available in English. Please check the languages available at that time before making an appointment.

I’m acutely self-destructive, I want to harm myself

Becoming a victim of violence may stir up suicidal ideation. You need to act quickly to find the help you need and prevent you from harming yourself. Contact the Unit for emergency services for mental illness and addiction problems, open 24/7. If you find it difficult to go alone, you can bring a loved one for support.

In an acute situation, call the emergency number 112.

Recovery from self-harming thoughts and behaviors is possible, and most people do recover. However, doing it alone is difficult, which is why you should always seek help for self-destructiveness. You can read more about where to find help for self-destructiveness on the MIELI Mental Health Finland website.

I want to report the crime or I’m considering reporting the crime

Nearly all sexual offences fall under public prosecution. This means that if the police are informed of a crime, it can be investigated and the prosecution taken to court, even if the plaintiff does not demand punishment. The authorities are therefore obliged to hold the offender liable for their actions. The sooner a report is filed, the easier it will be for the police to solve the crime.

Learn more about the criminal procedure on the Naistalo website (in Finnish) »

You can report a crime at your nearest police station. You can bring a loved one for support as well as your lawyer when you arrive at the police station to report a crime. If you have used the services of the Seri Support Centre, you can contact the police through Seri to report the offence. If more than one month has passed since the incident, you can also report the crime via the electronic service.

If necessary, you can contact the police helpline by calling 0295 419 800.

If you are still considering reporting the crime, please contact Victim Support Finland (RIKU). RIKU will offer you information about the criminal proceedings so that you can safely and calmly think about your options. If you decide to report the crime, you can ask a trained support person to help you cope during the criminal proceedings. The services are free of charge.

You have the right to free legal counsel in the event of a serious sexual offence. A legal counsel is a lawyer who will defend your interests in criminal proceedings. Legal counsels are sometimes also referred to as a legal adviser or simply counsel. We recommend choosing a legal counsel who is familiar with criminal matters. RIKU (Victime Support Finland) is one of the organisations that can help you with this.

In criminal proceedings, evidence plays an essential role. Save all possible evidence, such as messages, contact information and the clothes you were wearing at the time. If the other party is able to delete messages from the messaging service, take a screenshot as evidence. You can talk more about this at Victim Support Finland or with your legal counsel.

An offence can be reported until the crime falls under the statute of limitations. The limitation periods for offences depend on the names of the offences.

If you still want to think about reporting the crime and get more information, you can call:

I want to be tested for an STD

If you are showing no symptoms, your health centre will assess the need to test you.

The possibility of a sexually transmitted disease and the need for treatment can be assessed by making a symptom assessment for sexually transmitted diseases in the Omaolo service. In the Omaolo service, you will receive recommendations and local instructions appropriate to your situation. If necessary, you can contact a health care professional for more detailed instructions and, for example, a referral to a laboratory.

STD tests can also sometimes be obtained through student health care or private service providers.

The services of the Seri Support Centre include free-of-charge STD testing (treatment relationship that has started less than 1 month after the experience of sexual violence).

I want an abortion

Abortion

Abortion is defined as the deliberate termination of pregnancy, usually before the 12th week of pregnancy. For special reasons, an abortion may be carried out before the 20th week of pregnancy or, due to serious foetal abnormalities, before the 24th week of pregnancy. The hospital applies for permission from Valvira (National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health).

  • The pregnancy is confirmed with a pregnancy test. A pregnancy test can be bought from a pharmacy or a grocery store, or the pregnancy can be tested at a laboratory. A referral for pregnancy testing is not required, and the test is free of charge.
  • A referral for abortion is not required in the wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland. Instead, you can use the Varha application to fill in a pre-information form for abortion, and you will be contacted within three days. You can also contact the hospital directly. Contact information: Raskaudenkeskeytykset | TYKS and Varha digital services
  • If you are considering continuing or terminating the pregnancy or need support after an abortion, you can discuss the matter in the primary health care services of your municipality of residence, as well as in the hospital where the abortion would be performed. In Turku, for example, support is available at the central maternity clinic. You can book an appointment via the clinic’s telephone service. Contact information.

Hospital appointment

Book an appointment by calling the hospital. The appointment usually takes place within 1–2 weeks. An appointment for the gynaecological outpatient clinic takes place at 6+0 weeks at the earliest in order to ensure the intrauterine position of the pregnancy. Before the appointment, you will be directed to the laboratory for the necessary tests. A photo ID is required for the appointment.

  • If the pregnancy is approaching week 12+0 or 20+0, the abortion will be carried out without delay.

At the hospital, you will be asked to fill out a form which includes information about previous pregnancies, methods of contraception used, most recent menstruation, the estimated duration of pregnancy and the grounds for abortion. The doctor performs a gynaecological ultrasound examination and records the findings on the form.

The abortion method and birth control after the abortion are discussed with the doctor. If the pregnancy has lasted less than 12 weeks, it can be terminated medically or surgically. As a rule, the pregnancy is medically terminated either at home or in a hospital. With medical abortion, general anaesthesia and surgery can be avoided. A pregnancy that has lasted more than 10 weeks is always terminated medically in a hospital. Surgical abortion is carried out under general anaesthesia in a hospital.

  • The medical abortion process can often be started during the appointment. The actual termination of the pregnancy occurs with a separate medicine that is taken two days after the first medicine given at the hospital. A medical abortion at home requires the presence of another adult who can offer support. If necessary, the start of treatment can be agreed upon separately to ensure the availability of a support person.
  • The treatment will be discussed with you in detail, and you will also receive instructions in writing.

If a young person has become pregnant before the age of 18 and there is reason to suspect a sexual offence, the law obligates health care personnel to file a child welfare report and a criminal report. Persons under the age of 16 who are seeking an abortion always meet with a social worker who assesses the person’s overall situation. If the pregnancy originates from rape, the abortion is carried out at a hospital, and a criminal sample can be taken on the day of the abortion for police investigation.

I’m interested in participating in a peer support group for people who have experienced sexual violence

Occasionally, professionally supervised peer support groups for those who have experienced sexual violence are organised in the Turku region. See up-to-date information on the MIELI Kriisikeskus Turku (Turku Crisis Centre) website (in Finnish) and the website of the Turun tyttöjen talo sexual violence programme (page in Finnish)

The Delfins group for those who have experienced sexual abuse in their childhood meets in Turku every month. Learn more about Delfins groups on the website of Suomen Delfins ry (in Finnish)

The language of peer support groups meeting in Turku is mainly Finnish.

I want help anonymously – helplines and chats

Sometimes it’s easier to seek help by being anonymous and knowing that help is available immediately, 24/7. The opening hours of helplines and chats may change. Check the most up-to-date information by clicking on the links. The language of helplines and chats is usually Finnish, but some helplines also offer counselling and support in other languages at separate times. Many professionals in Finland also speak English.

These websites provide even more comprehensive services for people who have experienced violence:

I want other help

Here, we have collected more general services that have been useful to those who have experienced sexual violence or their loved ones.

I’m in a violent relationship

If you’re in a sexually violent relationship, it’s important to think about what you want. Do you want to stay in the relationship or do you want to leave? Staying together will require both of you to make changes, but the first step could be for you to seek counselling.

If you experience sexual violence or other forms of violence in your relationship, contact the following services:

If your main problem is sexual violence in a relationship and you want to talk about it and its effects, you can find short-term and free-of-charge counselling here:

Some services may not be available in English. Please check the languages available at that time before making an appointment.

You can also find counselling and support through the free-of-charge domestic violence hotline Nollalinja. Nollalinja’s trained and experienced social and health care professionals will listen, support and advise you 24/7, every day of the year. The Nollalinja workers offer support and counselling in Finnish, Swedish or English.

If you have experienced sexual violence in sex work or you have been forced into sex work, you can contact the Pro-tukipiste help centre. Pro-tukipiste offers support and health services to people who work in the sex and erotic industry, have transactional sex and/or who have been victims of human trafficking or other violence. The services are anonymous and free of charge.

I want psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a target-oriented health care activity that treats mental issues with psychological methods. Anyone can apply for psychotherapy in the private sector, in which case the person will be fully responsible for the costs of therapy. Individual psychotherapy fees vary between about EUR 60 and EUR 150 per session, depending on the type of therapy and the therapist’s level of training. You can also apply for psychotherapy with a referral from health care services as discretionary Kela rehabilitation, in which case Kela offers financial support for the psychotherapy. Usually, after the Kela reimbursement, the customer pays a deductible which is determined by the psychotherapist’s price list. Kela may grant statutory rehabilitative psychotherapy to people aged 16–67 if their ability to work or study is threatened due to a mental health disorder and other criteria for statutory rehabilitation are met.

For rehabilitative psychotherapy supported by Kela, you must first be assessed by a psychiatrist. This appointment can be accessed through the following services:

  • Public health care with referral from a general practitioner at your health centre
  • A referral from a doctor at the Seri Support Center
  • Student health care or occupational health care often provide an opportunity for an appointment with a psychiatrist
  • Psychiatrists at private clinics also carry out psychotherapy assessments. The prices of services depend on the price lists of the clinics.

Learn more about psychotherapy on the Mielenterveystalo website » (in Finnish) and the Kela website »

If you wish to discuss past sexual violence in psychotherapy, you can bring it up when searching for a suitable therapist.

I want sexual counselling or therapy

Sexual counselling and therapy are services intended to help an individual with problems related to sexuality. The goal is to increase the customer’s self-esteem and understanding of their sexuality or sexual activity during the process. The usual duration of sexual therapy is 5 to 20 appointments. A service of 1–5 appointments is considered sexual counselling. The services are mainly provided at the customer’s own expense. Sexual therapy is not reimbursed by Kela. You can search for private service providers online

Free-of-charge sexual counselling is available for:

Some services may not be available in English. Please check the languages available at that time before making an appointment.

I’m a friend or a family member

The experience of sexual violence also has a strong impact on loved ones. Loved ones may be extremely concerned about the well-being of someone who has experienced sexual violence. Generally, people who have experienced violence hope that their everyday life could continue as normally as possible, but it may not always be possible. Recovery takes time. As a loved one, you can offer support in their everyday life, for example:

  • groceries
  • doctor’s appointments and other use of services
  • helping with chores (making meals, washing dishes, paying bills, walking their dog, childcare)
  • Loved ones can also offer support in reporting a crime or during appointments at the Seri Support Center.

Learn more on the Naistalo » website (in Finnish)

Learn more about psychological first aid »

Sometimes, a person who has experienced violence can have fears related to being alone, being in a dark environment, being around people, being close to people or going outside, for example. The presence of a loved one can help them calm down. It is important that you remain calm and that the person can talk to you, if they want. Sometimes, the person may want to talk to a loved one about something completely different than what happened. As a loved one, you will also be able to tell if there is reason to be concerned about the person’s well-being. In that case, help them seek professional support.

If you or the person who has experienced sexual violence are minors, it is important that you tell a trusted adult.

By taking care of yourself, you also help your loved one. As a loved one, you can find support in the following services, for example (pages in Finnish):

If your partner has experienced sexual violence and you need help with problems in your relationship, you can seek counselling with private couples therapists, for example, at the Church’s family counselling centre (page in Finnish) or your local family counselling centre.

Some services may not be available in English. Please check the languages available at that time before making an appointment.
In case of a sexual offence committed against a person under the age of 18, you can find advice and instructions from your local social emergency services. Outside office hours, you can contact the social emergency services via the emergency number 112.

I’m a worker

You can face a person who has experienced sexual violence in any type of work. The role of a worker involves many things, and nobody expects you to know everything. The most important thing is that you stay calm and can handle what they tell you. Believe the customer and find out if they need help with their experience.

If you suspect that a minor has experienced a sexual offence, you must file a child welfare report with the social services and report it to the police. Those working with minors can consult the police without disclosing the customer’s personal information. In such a situation, first contact the local social emergency services.

If the incident occurred less than seven days ago, immediately refer the customer to the Seri Support Centre, tel: +358 (0)50 475 6108

If more than seven days have passed since the incident, you have time to find information and discuss the incident with your customer later. For example, you can consult:

You can also view the Pirkanmaa care chain for the Tampere area, which contains a comprehensive package of useful information. (page in Finnish)

If you need more information about human trafficking or sex work, please contact Pro-tukipiste.

Sexual violence can also be linked to cultural traditions. This type of violence may include, for example, ’honor-based’ violence, forced marriage, prohibiting the use of contraception, or female genital mutilation. You can find more information on the THL website » (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare).

I want help in my everyday life

Sometimes, being in the midst of a crisis is so difficult that the person no longer finds the strength to carry out their usual everyday routines. A past experience of sexual violence can also result in various challenges with coping in daily life.

Examples of such challenges:

  • You feel that you are not able to take care of your children’s affairs or take sufficient care of them at the moment
  • You have taken care of/should take care of your elderly parents, but at the moment you are not able to
  • You need help with childcare to be able to use counselling services or take care of other important matters
  • You are a family caregiver and can’t take care of your family member in your current situation
  • Your financial situation is worrying
  • You need support for everyday life
  • You are concerned about your child’s health but can’t do anything about it in your current situation
  • You are concerned about your alcohol or drug use or that of someone close to you
  • You have problems with housing
  • There are factors causing you to feel unsafe in your life, such as violence
  • You use various services but feel that your overall situation needs clarification

Depending on the situation, one or more of the above challenges may materialise. People close to you can often help with these issues, but sometimes the need for help is greater than the help your loved ones can offer, you may not want to rely on your loved ones or you may have a limited network of trusted people. In that case, we recommend contacting social services. In order to receive support from the social services, you do not need to have financial concerns, and you do not need to be a customer of social services to apply for discretionary income support. Concerning your income support application, you can contact social services for help. The contact details of social services can usually be found on the website of your municipality.

Residents of the Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland can easily contact social services on weekdays through the customer service Soihtu.

Social emergency services are organised to ensure the availability of urgent and necessary assistance 24/7. Social emergency services also provide counselling and service guidance. Outside office hours, Social and crisis emergency services offer urgent social services for all ages in the entire region of Southwest Finland, tel. +358 (0)2 262 6003.

I don’t know what I want

After a traumatic experience, you may feel that you don’t know what kind of help you need and want. Your thoughts and emotions can seem confusing and contradictory. Discussing the incident with a trusted person can help clarify your thoughts. Writing down your thoughts can also prove helpful.

Some people find it easier to seek support from loved ones and friends. Others may feel better talking to a professional. You can also start processing the incident anonymously via different helplines or chats.

If you don’t know what kind of help you need, each region has a social services office where you can seek help. Many regions offer centralised emergency services on weekdays, and the social and crisis emergency services of the Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland are available outside office hours in all the municipalities in Southwest Finland. The municipal social services office knows all the services available in the area, and the workers can guide you to the right place. A social worker can make a service needs assessment of your situation and guide and support you to get the help you need. Your problem may be related to, for example, coping with everyday life, running errands, housing, financial affairs, or family interaction.

You can also map your situation with the Therapy Navigator (in Finnish). The Therapy Navigator is an online tool that can be used to assess the need for treatment when faced with mental health challenges. It also helps to reduce the time needed for an assessment and assists in outlining your situation.