Mariska Hargitay - Joyful Heart Foundation

Mariska began the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2002 to help heal "survivors of Sexual Assault". When Mariska is asked why she began the Joyful Heart Foundation she replies:


"Playing Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit opened my eyes to the epidemic of sexual assault in this country. It wasn't just in the scripts for the show, but in the many emails I received from viewers disclosing their stories of sexual assault for the first time.

I felt a great responsibility to these brave women to let them know that they had been heard and that they could have hope. I studied the subject, trained to become a crisis counselor, and have used my visibility as an actress to become an advocate. The result was The Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing support and encouragement for survivors of sexual assault."

Teenagers and young adults are the age groups at greatest risk for sexual assault. The risk of sexual assault is four times higher for women aged 16-24 than for any other age group.


Every two minutes in the United States a woman is sexually assaulted.

Over 90% of sexual assaults are committed by someone the survivor knows.

Rape is an extremely traumatic experience, not only for the survivor, but also for those that care about them. Providing a friend with an attentive ear, and a supportive shoulder to lean on could make all the difference in the world for someone who has been sexually assaulted. However, a supportive friend may be uncertain about how to help a friend in need. The following are a few simple guidelines to keep in mind when comforting your friend.

First, you can begin by letting your friend know that you want to listen, and then do so. Listen attentively, and let your friend talk without interrupting. You can show interest in what s/he says by sitting close and facing her/him. You may feel nervous about stalls in the conversation, as well as silences. These are OK, just let them happen. Simply providing a thoughtful ear is an important contribution to the survivors healing process.

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If you have been sexually assaulted recently or some time ago, you may be experiencing a wide range of feelings, from shock, fear, disbelief, flashbacks, outrage, confusion, sadness, despair, and anger.
These feelings can be very difficult if you are a teenager, when you are surrounded by so many people at school, home and work. Please do not lose hope. All of your feelings are valid. You did not deserve this and the offender is the only person who should be blamed.

Regardless of your age, there are many people who can be of help to you now. One important and confidential source is your local rape crisis center (please refer to the Resources). Below are some of the options that you have. Please read them all so that you keep open as many options as possible, especially if the assault has just happened.

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Contact friends and family you trust. Although they may not always understand how you feel, they know you the best and care about you. For free, confidential help and support with questions you can also contact your local rape crisis center. Every question you have is valid and important. They can also provide assistance at the hospital, at the police station or court, and with counseling if you wish. Whether the assault occurred today or years ago, rape crisis center services are for anyone who has experienced a sexual assault. Some programs may also have special services, such as support groups, just for teens.

When a person has been sexually assaulted, your role is to listen, be supportive, to not be judgmental and to provide information if needed. The following list will help you respond most appropriately if someone you know discloses that they have been sexually assaulted.


Communicate to the survivor that the assault was not their fault

Believe the survivor. Try to understand what the person has experienced.

The survivor needs someone to turn to for physical and emotional support and for validation of their experience.

Survivors of sexual assault feel out of control and powerless.

Survivors often feel unsafe after the assault, both in the immediate aftermath and for any given amount of time after the fact.

The victim may experience fear, shock, or any range of emotions and need immediate comfort from someone they trust.

Encourage the survivor to seek medical attention. Encourage the survivor to seek psychological treatment.

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Mariska Hargitay - Joyful Heart Foundation by DMedley is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.