Digital platform for survivors of sexual assault aims to reduce barriers to support

Sexual assault can be deeply traumatic – not only for the survivor, but also for informal and formal support providers who are closely involved. That’s why researchers from the University of Southern Denmark, in collaboration with the Centre for Rape Victims in Aarhus, have developed an updated digital platform to make it easier to locate support, understand reactions, and navigate the formal support system.

Supported by TrygFonden, the project has just been completed and has resulted in the relaunch of www.voldtaegt.dk – a platform with a new structure, increased visual modalities, and targeted content for different user groups.

- We wanted to develop a service that not only informs, but also offers support and resonates with the lived experiences of our users. Our approach has been trauma-informed and deeply rooted in the users’ own experiences, says Associate Professor and psychologist Maj Hansen from the THRIVE research group at the Department of Psychology, SDU.

Needed update

Previously, voldtaegt.dk was characterised by text-heavy pages and was confusing to navigate. The site is now structured into three main sections – one for survivors of assault, one informal support providers, and one for formal support providers – and the content has been made more concise, more visual, and inclusive.

-Survivors and their loved ones explained to us that they had struggled to read longer texts because they were in crisis. We have therefore reduced texts, added more visual modalities, created sections in English, incorporated new accessibility features, and made the content more inclusive. It’s about making help accessible – also emotionally, explains postdoc and psychologist Maria Hardeberg Bach, THRIVE, Department of Psychology, SDU, who has had an office at the Centre for Rape Victims during the project and helped lead the user involvement. 

-We are very grateful for the great commitment to the project – both from those who participated in the user involvement process and from employees at the Centre for Rape Victims and especially Knowledge Centre Coordinator Sascha Strauss Krogh, who has played a crucial role in the project, says Maria Hardeberg Bach. 

Involvement across the board

The project has involved survivors of assault, informal support providers, and formal support providers in different ways. This process has provided concrete input on functionality, language and layout – ensuring that users’ voices are directly reflected in the solutions.

The new initiatives include:
• Complete relaunch of the voldtaegt.dk website
• An animated film about reactions after sexual assault
• Informative videos featuring professionals from the police, healthcare system, and legal representatives
• Guidelines for online therapy

-What made this project special is that we have not only conducted traditional research – we have also created something that is actually being used in practice and makes a real difference to survivors right now, says Maria Hardeberg Bach.

Research that makes a difference

The collaboration has been rooted in action research, in which the University and areas of professional practice work closely together. For Maj Hansen, it is crucial that research is not confined to paper:

-We hope this project will inspire others to develop initiatives and services in close collaboration with users. For us, it’s about making research accessible and tangible in real life. This is something we prioritise at THRIVE. 

Next step: increased visibility

Since its relaunch in autumn 2024, the website has seen a significant increase in visitor numbers, but the potential is far greater. Young people in particular – who are the group most frequently subjected to sexual assault – are an important target group.
The project group has already sent out information material to relevant stakeholders and will strive to make the platform even more visible and integrated into the Danish healthcare and support system.

See the results of the project here: www.voldtaegt.dk 

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