Sexual Assault Support Services of Lane County offers a variety of useful services for survivors of sexual assault and abuse who are seeking help and guidance. This spring, SASS’s support group coordinator Jessica Mason plans to form a male-identified support group, which is specially focused on survivors who are 18 and older.
SASS began incorporating male-identified survivors of sexual assault into their support group program a few years ago, according to Mason, but the program has temporarily not been offered.
“It’s one of the projects that I’ve tried really hard to get going,” Mason said.
Like SASS’s services in general, the support groups are free, totally confidential, and staff members are not mandatory reporters. The no-pressure environment allows a safe space for survivors to connect, and Mason says each group is tailored to the unique requests and needs of the members.
“I think that if there were more resources, more would come forward,” Mason said. “My goal is to let the community know that we’re accessible for all survivors.”
Mason is currently forming the new male-identified group, which is scheduled to begin around the first week of April. Additionally, SASS will be starting a gender-inclusive drop-in support group, meeting the first Wednesday of the month, starting in June. Anyone who is interested in any SASS group should contact Mason: [email protected].