Many survivors of sexual and relationship violence say that what helped them most was the unconditional support of a friend or family member. You don't need to understand what they're going through to be helpful. Even if you don't know what else to do, saying

"I'm sorry this happened to you, you didn't do anything wrong," can be extremely validating for a survivor to hear. Providing emotional support can go a long way. Unless you have an immediate concern about the health of your friend, understand that they have to make and live with their own decisions. It's not helpful to push someone towards making a choice they're not ready for or don't want to take. Sexual assault and relationship abuse are about someone else taking control of one's life and body. Recovery depends on getting that control back.