Watch: Lady Gaga "Til It Happens To You"

Lady Gaga released her new single, “Til It Happens To You” from the film THE HUNTING GROUND, and now there is a video to go with it about sexual assault.
**TRIGGER WARNING: Please note the warning at the beginning of the video**

This is graphic. Not in a a gratuitous way but in a really powerful, this is the reality of what is happening way.

1 in 5 college women will be sexually assaulted this year in the United States. In Canada it’s a bit harder to get the numbers but more than 700 sexual assaults were reported to Canadian universities and colleges over the past five years and, considering the stats are that less than one in ten sexual assaults are reported, that number is staggering.

We do know that many on-campus sexual assaults occur during the first eight weeks of classes. More than 80% of rapes on campuses are committed by someone known to the victim with half of these incidents occurring on dates.

It’s not always easy to know what to say when someone tells you they’ve been sexually assaulted, especially when that person is a family member, friend, or loved one. Consider these suggestions from RAINN to show support:

• Listen. Be there. Communicate without judgment.
• If the survivor seeks medical attention or plans to report, offer to be there. Your presence can offer the support they need.
• Encourage the survivor to get support. Share resources like online.rainn.org and the Canadian Resource Centre for Victums of Crime, but realize that only they can make the decision to get help.
• Be patient. Remember, there is no timetable for recovering from trauma. Avoid putting pressure on them to engage in activities they aren’t ready to do yet.
• Encourage them to practice good self-care during this difficult time.
• If someone you care about is considering suicide, learn the warning signs, and offer help and support. For more information about suicide prevention please visit the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention or call 1-204-784-4073
• To search for your local sexual assault service provider, visit the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres (CASAC)

A portion of proceeds from the sale of the song “Til It Happens To You”  will be donated to organizations helping survivors of sexual assault.

“Til It Happens To You” available for download now:
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/TIHTY
Google Play: http://smarturl.it/TIHTYgp
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/TIHTYamz