uSafeUS is an important smartphone app that's available free to UNH students: This primary prevention tool places sexual assault support resources into the hands of students, providing help at the moment they need it.
uSafeUS is based on more than a decade of research by the Prevention Innovations Research Center (PIRC) at UNH.
Research indicates one in five women, one in 16 men and two in 5 TGQN (transgender, genderqueer, questioning or not listed) students will be sexually assaulted during their college careers. In its ongoing efforts to change those statistics, PIRC has compiled the following tips about the uSafeUS app for parents and students.
With the uSafeUS app, students can:
- Send themselves a fake text or call, giving them a reason to leave an uncomfortable situation.
- Alert friends to follow up if they don’t arrive when expected, for example when walking alone at night.
- Get help in a restaurant or bar, discretely.
One in five women, one in 16 men and two in 5 TGQN students will be sexually assaulted during their college careers.
uSafeUS makes it easier for students to trust their intuition — and get help or get out — before a situation becomes dangerous.
Should an assault occur, uSafeUS provides extensive information about where to get help on or near campus, along with options for reporting the assault and other possible next steps. It also offers guidance for self-care or for helping a friend or loved one who has experienced an assault.
uSafeUS is research-informed with extensive community input from more than 100 campuses, 400 students and numerous law enforcement, rape crisis and counseling professionals.
PIRC is looking for UNH parents to share their feedback on the uSafeUS app during an in-person meeting on Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. and a virtual meeting on Feb. 22 at 8 a.m. Please email Sharyn.Potter@unh.edu to attend.
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Compiled By:
Jennifer Saunders | Communications and Public Affairs | jennifer.saunders@unh.edu | 603-862-3585
