DoD Safe Helpline

Sexual Assault Support for the DoD Community

What is DoD Safe Helpline?

DoD Safe Helpline is a crisis support service specially designed for members of the DoD community affected by sexual assault. Safe Helpline staff provides live, one-on-one support to survivors and their families. All Safe Helpline services are secure, confidential, anonymous, and available worldwide, providing survivors with the help they need, anytime, anywhere.

Why was Safe Helpline established?

Research indicates that when sexual assault victims receive care, system confidence builds and this in turn increases the likelihood that victims will report the crime. Safe Helpline provides a clear channel for members of the DoD community to receive the care they need in a secure, confidential, and anonymous support platform.

How to connect with Safe Helpline?

Users have multiple ways to get confidential support.

Telephone Helpline

Safe Helpline provides live, confidential help over the phone — just call 877-995-5247. The phone number is the same in the U.S. and worldwide via DSN.

Online Helpline

Safe Helpline provides live, confidential, one-on-one help through a secure instant-messaging platform at Safehelpline.org. The website also contains vital information about recovering from and reporting a sexual assault and transitioning service members.

Safe HelpRoom: Chat with Peers

Safe HelpRoom is a secure community of survivors that meet to help each other — regardless of time zone or distance. Visit SafehelpRoom.org.

Self-Care App

The Self-Care App is designed specifically for military sexual assault survivors and helps survivors manage the long-term effects of sexual assault. Users can create a personalized self-care plan and access supportive exercises whenever they need it. In addition, the app connects the user with all of the other Safe Helpline resources in an easy to use mobile platform. The app is available for free on Apple iTunes and in the Google Play Store:

Info by Text

Users can easily access the complete DoD Safe Helpline Resource database by texting a zip code or installation/base name to 55-247 (in the U.S.) or 202-470-5546 (outside the U.S.), Message and data rates may apply.

Feedback Form

Safe Helpline visitors may choose to provide feedback to DoD SAPRO directly through a confidential and anonymous feedback form on SafeHelpline.org.

Who can use Safe Helpline?

The services provided by Safe Helpline are available to the DoD community consistent with DoD SAPR Policy, including:

• Adult Service members in the Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve Component as well as Coast Guard and Transitioning Service members, their dependents, 18 years of age and older.
• The Family Advocacy Program (FAP) covers adult military dependent sexual assault victims who are assaulted by a spouse or intimate partner and military dependent sexual assault victims who are 17 years of age and younger;
• DoD civilian employees and their family dependents 18 years of age and older when they are stationed or performing duties outside of the United States; and
• U.S. citizen DoD contractor personnel when they are authorized to accompany Armed Forces in a contingency operation OCONUS and their U.S. citizen employees. Safe Helpline adheres to state mandatory reporting laws concerning persons under the age of 18 and the elderly.

Who operates Safe Helpline?

Safe Helpline is operated through the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) on behalf of the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO). RAINN does not share your name or any other personally identifying information with DoD SAPRO or anyone in the DoD.

How can I talk about Safe Helpline on my base/installation?

Order or download posters, postcards, brochures, and more from DoD Safe Helpline by visiting shop.safehelpline.org