Ask permission. "Would you be willing to share your experience to help others?" Don't: Assume that because someone survived something, they owe the world a story.
First, a silent sufferer in the audience realizes: I am not alone. If they survived, maybe I can too. That realization is often the catalyst for them to pick up the phone and ask for help for the first time. --- Hong Kong Actress Carina Lau Ka-Ling Rape Video
This year, when you see a colored ribbon, do not just nod at the logo. Look for the face. Look for the story. And when you find it, listen with the intent to act. Ask permission
Share the resources a survivor used (a hotline, a specific therapy, a support group). Don't: Share the graphic details of the assault or accident for shock value. If they survived, maybe I can too
Consider the organization (a representative example of modern advocacy). In the past, addiction awareness campaigns used grainy mugshots and dark filters to scare teens away from drugs. The result? Stigma. Shame. Silence.
Awareness campaigns are the megaphone. But survivors are the voice.