2. Get support
If you're the victim of a crime involving gender-based violence, it's important to get support if you need it. You might need emotional support, information about what to do, or information about criminal prosecutions.
Talk to someone you trust
You might want to talk about what happened to you with someone you can trust. A trusted person can support you emotionally and help you figure out what you want to do next. They could be:
- a family member or close friend
- a doctor, nurse, social worker, or counsellor
- a community resource
- the police
- a lawyer
Before you talk to a family member or close friend, think about whether they will support you and if they will keep your information private. Family or friends might feel they need to take sides if they know the person you believe committed the crime. If you plan to talk to someone, you may want to first ask them not to talk to other people about your conversation.
Community resources
There are community resources that can give you information and referrals to services you might need.
The Victim Support Line can refer you to programs and services in your community, such as counselling and shelters. They take calls in several languages, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call them at 1-888-579-2888.
Ontario 211 can help you find a wide range of services in your community. They take calls in more than 150 languages, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dial 211 or call them at 1-877-330-3213. You can also chat online with Ontario 211, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
It Gets Better Canada has a list of helplines and other resources for Two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (+) youth.
Your local Family Service Agency can offer individual and family counselling. Fees are based on how much you can pay.
The Ontario government website, get help if you are experiencing violence, has a list of helplines and other resources, including supports for women and men who are survivors of .
Shelters
Shelters for abused women offer many kinds of support. Their counsellors can provide emotional support. They can also work with you to make a safety plan.
Shelter staff are trained to find resources for people who have experienced abuse. They can help you with finding housing, childcare, and applying for Ontario Works, sometimes called welfare. Staff can also speak to other agencies for you and provide you with a support letter if you need one.
You can find your local shelter by visiting sheltersafe.ca or 211ontario.ca or by calling 211 from anywhere in Ontario.
The following organizations help people who have been abused:
Luke’s Place works with abused women across Ontario by providing legal advice, support, and referrals. They offer a Virtual Legal Clinic that connects women with lawyers for free legal advice on family law issues. Call 905-728-0978 or 1-866-516-3116.
The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic helps women and people who identify as non-binary who have experienced physical, sexual, or psychological abuse. The clinic is for people in the Greater Toronto Area. It accepts collect calls and can be reached at 416-323-9149 or 416-323-1361 (TTY). The clinic's services include:
- representing women in family and immigration court for free
- counselling
- interpreter services in more than 90 languages
- legal advice
- supporting positive change in criminal law
The Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres is a network of 20 community-based rape crisis centres across the province that offer counselling and referrals to people who have experienced sexual abuse.
The Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres has centres in 35 hospitals across Ontario that provide emergency care to women, children, and men who have been sexually assaulted or have experienced partner abuse. Its services include:
- emergency medical and nursing care
- helping in a crisis situation
- collecting physical for courts
- medical follow-up
- counselling
You can reach the Network at 416-323-7327.
Helplines
There is emergency, 24-hour-a-day telephone support available.
These helplines offer emotional support and can refer you to community services for people who have experienced abuse. Their services are available free of . You can call the distress line in your region, the distress line for people who live in the GTA, or:
- The Assaulted Women’s Helpline: 1-866-863-0511. Help is available in English and translators in many other languages are available by phone.
- Talk4Healing: If you are an Indigenous woman living in Ontario. This service is available in English and several Indigenous languages. Call 1-855-554-4325.
- Ganohkwasra Family Assault Support Services: If you are part of the Six Nations of the Grand River community, call 519-445-4324.
If you speak French, you can call:
- Fem’aide: 1-877-336-2433
- Oasis Centre des femmes: 1-877-336-2433
- Fédération des maisons d’hébergement pour femmes: 1-800-363-9010
If you're a survivor of sexual , see Steps to Justice to find the support you may need.