Stalking victims can turn to emergency hotlines, police departments, support agencies, and loved ones for help with physical safety and emotional health. Victims should save emergency numbers and seek professional support. Loved ones can provide emotional support but are not a substitute for professional services.
When victims of stalking experience difficult emotions such as fear, depression and frustration, they often feel like they have no one to turn to. Yet there are many resources that can help victims of stalking maintain their physical safety and emotional health. An emergency services hotline or local police department is often the best resource for those in immediate danger. Private and publicly funded stalking and violence support agencies can also provide valuable advice to victims of stalking. Finally, loved ones can often provide the emotional support needed to survive the psychological stress of being stalked.
If possible, stalking victims who face an immediate threat of danger or violence should contact an emergency services hotline, such as 911 in the United States. Depending on your particular situation, a hot line representative may dispatch the appropriate law enforcement or emergency medical services personnel. Those who have been aggressively persecuted may want to consider saving their country’s emergency services number in their mobile phone’s speed dial program and ensure that their phone is always easily accessible.
Some stalking victims may find that their local police department is helpful in offering protection from a stalker. Depending on national or state laws, however, a police department may not be able to intervene in stalker situations unless a documented crime has been committed. However, law enforcement officials can often suggest methods for dealing with stalker confrontations, provide advice on filing restraining orders, and refer victims of stalking to additional resources and support groups.
Many private and publicly funded stalking and violence support agencies offer a range of helpful services to victims of stalking. Web-based support agencies often try to educate victims on the best ways to deal with stalkers. They can also provide a forum where past and present victims can share their stories with each other. Physically located agencies can offer victims legal advice or even temporary shelter.
Finally, some stalking victims may find that their loved ones can provide an excellent emotional support system. By simply discussing their stress, frustration, and fear with family or trusted friends, victims may feel their sense of isolation begin to diminish. It’s vital to remember, however, that in most cases, loved ones lack professional training to deal with crisis situations. Therefore, in order to best protect their physical and emotional health, victims of stalking should view their loved ones as a supplement to, rather than a substitute for, professional victim support services.
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