How can I best support my son after a sexual assault?

[Sandwichmat]

My son was sexually assaulted a few months ago and im struggling to know how to help him.

He is 22, a student in a big city and was violently sexually attacked on a night out. I dont know a huge amount more than that - he is struggling to talk about it, understably so - and I dont want to push him. He didnt report it to the police, or even tell anyone at the time. It was only when he seemed to be falling apart, failed or didnt turn up for exams, isolated himself and pushed everyone away that he shared what happened.

I'm so devastated for him. After a month or so I've persuaded him to go to GP as his anxiety is debilitating. He's now been referred to a rape crisis service, but I dont know what else I can do to help him.

He is trying so hard to pick himself back up but this has devastated him. I wish I could take his pain away

He is occasionally divulging little pieces of information to us about what happened and it's horrendous... does anyone have any advice on how we van help him?

Just be ready to listen. I feel for you. We found out about DS after years of unravelling and MH struggles.
The hardest part is that as mum I can't take away the pain. Any further action is in his court. He
doesn't want to talk or do anything about it. Perpetrator is in prison already for other attacks. It took 20 years for him to even say anything.

Oh god, that must have been so hard. Thank you for sharing, I do appreciate that, but I'm so sorry your son went through that.

We already have had a hard few years with DS's mental health and this has just rocked him so hard, im so worried he won't come back from it.

He told his dad recently too, which i felt was a huge step forward. We are both trying to just be there for him. There's been a lot of tears, but i guess its good he felt he could tell us, even if it wasn't straight away.