If you have experienced sexual violence, you can contact the Seri Support Centre (Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC) on your own, together with a close person, or through a referral from an authority.
It is important that you can receive the help you need in one place, or that you are immediately referred onwards to appropriate specialist services. The sooner a victim of sexual violence receives care in the acute phase, the sooner recovery can begin.
The operations of the Seri Support Centres are coordinated by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). The wellbeing services counties are responsible for organising the services.
Service description
At a Seri Support Centre, people who have experienced sexual violence can receive support within one month of the incident.
The Seri Support Centre provides:
- forensic medical examination
- medical care
- trauma support
- psychological counselling
All examinations and treatments are voluntary. To receive these services, adults aged 18 and over are not required to report the offence to the police, although reporting is encouraged.
There are 25 Seri Support Centres in Finland. You can contact the nearest Seri Support Centre regardless of where you live. It is recommended that you call the support centre before arriving. If necessary, the support centre can refer you onwards to other specialist services tailored to your needs.
Important information about the service
The operation of the Seri Support Centres is based on the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) and on the European Union Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. Both the Convention and the Directive oblige states to establish easily accessible support centres for victims of sexual violence.
Who is the service for
The service is open to people who have experienced sexual violence, regardless of gender.
What to expect from the service provider
The operations of the Seri Support Centres are guided by national operating practices and guidelines. Cooperation between the different Seri Support Centres is seamless. THL and the service providers work together to continuously develop the operations of the Seri Support Centres.
THL collects client feedback in all Seri Support Centres. Responding to the survey is voluntary. All responses are anonymous and handled confidentially. The feedback is used to develop and improve the services provided by the Seri Support Centres.
Fees and charges
The service is free of charge for you.
How to use the service and contact us
You can contact the nearest Seri Support Centre.
Contact details for the Seri Support Centres
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