Seri Support Center for Victims of Sexual Assault

You can seek help from the Seri Support center by first calling the Seri midwives at 040 701 8446 and then coming to the center. If you wish to report a crime, you can also go to the police first and then come to us.

We provide support to anyone over 16 years of age, regardless of their gender or sexuality. The incident must have taken place less than a month ago when you contact us.

We take care of customers even at night, but only in acute cases or when the police request an examination.

Before coming to the center, you should always call the Seri midwives at 040 701 8446 to arrange a suitable time for your arrival.

On the first visit, we talk with to you about what happened. We may take blood and urine samples to check for sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, we will take samples to check for DNA, even if you have not filed a crime report.

If needed, we will provide you with an emergency contraceptive and hepatitis B vaccine. We will also make sure that you find a safe place to stay. If you need further treatment at another hospital, we will make sure that you get there.

Generally, we also want to make sure that you continue to receive emotional support and will book an appointment for you with one of our psychologists or social workers. All our services are voluntary and free of charge.

• Samples to screen for sexually transmitted and blood-borne diseases (e.g. blood and urine samples)
• Forensic toxicology samples (to check for date-rape drugs)
• Forensic samples (i.e. DNA samples)

All test samples are voluntary and free of charge for you. Samples for forensic tests and tests to identify knockout drops will be delivered to the police after a report is filed. The police will examine the samples in their laboratory. The Seri Support Center will never receive these test results.

If you have not filed a report with the police, the samples are collected in case you wish to do so later and stored at the Seri Support Center. The samples will only be forwarded to the police if you file a police report. Sexual assault usually leaves no visible signs on the body. If you are unsure whether intercourse has taken place, a gynecological examination will not provide an answer.

Bring with you a photo ID (passport, driving license or ID card). If your first visit takes places shortly after the sexual assault, do not wash yourself or change your clothes before coming to the Seri Support Center. However, washing or changing clothes after a sexual assault are not obstacles to taking forensic samples. Bring with you the underpants you were wearing after the sexual assault, unwashed.

The first visit usually takes several hours. If you wish, you can ask a friend or someone else to accompany you.

You don’t have to file a crime report before coming to the support center. If you wish and with your permission, we can notify the police of the crime, in which case the police may come to the support center to interview you.

You can also think matters over and file a crime report later. In this case, the forensic samples taken will be stored at the support center.

In the case of minors, we will always file a crime report, as required by the law, unless one has already been filed.

If you wish to file a crime report right after the incident, the easiest way to do so is to call the emergency response center. If time has passed since the crime, you can go to the nearest police station at any time to file a report.

If you wish, the Seri Support Center employees can also notify the police about the incident. In most cases, the police will come to the support center to receive the report.

If needed, we can book the clients of the Seri Support Center an appointment with a psychologist, social worker or hospital chaplain. If required, we can also offer counseling and support visits to the loved ones of people who have been sexually assaulted.

We will support you in your initial recovery and assess the need for further care. If needed, we will also guide you in seeking further support elsewhere. Conversational support is available in Finnish, Swedish and English, as well as in other languages through an interpreter. Psychosocial support visits are voluntary and free of charge.

Support is also available from many organizations and associations:

• Mieli Mental Health Finland
• Tukinainen ry
• Helsingin Tyttöjen Talo
• Helsingin Poikien Talo