On February 22, in a special way, we would like to draw attention to the victims of crime, their rights and their needs. There are many such people around us, each of us may face a situation of being harmed by a crime, such as domestic violence, theft, robbery, traffic accident, fraud, forgery.
A person victimized by a crime needs support. He or she may require intervention, psychological help – both immediately after the incident and in the subsequent stages of recovery from the crisis situation
However, it is not only specialized help that is important – it is also important how people who are at the scene of the incident, relatives, family members or witnesses behave. Everyone in such a situation can become a “Helper” and give the injured person the much-needed support.
How to help? What to say? What not to do? What helps and what harms?
Pay attention to the needs of the victim. She may be confused, very stressed, unable to find her way in the surrounding reality. In fact, making contact, introducing yourself – will already be the start of help. An important aspect in this situation is to take care of, for example, the basic needs of such a person – giving water, pointing out the toilet, securing personal belongings, asking him when he last ate something, etc. Try to let this person know that you notice them – that you see their plight, without judging them, giving advice, or “psychologizing” them. Don’t say “please calm down”, don’t ask “why are you screaming/crying so much”, because such messages don’t meet any needs of this person, invalidate him, may lead to so-called secondary injuries. In such a situation, a better choice would be “I see/know that you are having a hard time right now”, “what you are feeling is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation”.
The most important need of a crime victim is the need for attentiveness. To show her that we accept how she is, what she is experiencing, that we accept her current state as it is, that it is important to us how she feels, that she has a right to feel that way.
The Week of Assistance to Persons Victimized by Crime is underway, within the framework of this action many Lublin support institutions are conducting free activities for people affected by crime and their relatives, today these include:
AGAPE Association lawyers on duty:
- February 22, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
At any time you can contact the CIK at 733 588 900 – a 24-hour helpline for people in crisis.