Your options for support
If you’ve experienced sexual assault, there’s no right or wrong way to process what you’re going through. Everyone responds differently, and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed or unsure about where to turn to for support. No matter where you are, there are resources available to help. What you decide to do next is a choice that belongs to you, whether it’s talking to a trusted support person, a counsellor in your community, or the police. Here are some options you can consider:
- If the incident occurred recently and you need medical attention, you can get support through a Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre in your community. These services are all confidential. If you want to file a police report, the practitioner providing you with medical support can help assist you with collecting any forensic evidence available — but this choice is completely up to you.
- You can reach out to a sexual assault centre in your community. Sexual assault centres offer counselling, information, and support services. If you want more information about reporting the event, they can also help you understand your options. Calls to sexual assault centres are free and confidential. To find sexual assault centres in your community, see the list of resources below.
- You can talk to a trusted friend, family member, or other support person like a registered counseller
- You can report what happened to the police. The decision to file a police report is personal, and there’s absolutely no requirement to do so if you don’t feel comfortable at this time. There are resources available that can help you understand what’s required during the reporting process so you can make an informed decision.
Support in each province
Here’s a list of support resources by province:
Alberta: Alberta One Line for Sexual Violence
Manitoba: Klinic Community Health
New Brunswick: Sexual Violence New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador: NL Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre
Nova Scotia: Avalon Sexual Assault Centre
Ontario: Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres
Prince Edward Island: PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre
Quebec: Sexual Violence Helpline (Info-Aide Violence Sexuelle)
For support resources that are Canada-wide, as well as more resources in each province, check out Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada.
Can I still get help even if something happened a long time ago?
Yes, there is always support available even if it happened a long time ago. Many folks wait days, weeks, months, or even years before they begin talking about what happened to them — there is no timeline. You can always reach out to a sexual assault centre in your community regardless of how much time has passed. You can still report the incident to the police at any time if you choose to.
I don’t want to report what happened to me. Can I still get help?
Yes, you can always get help regardless of whether you want to report the incident or not. If you do not wish to make a formal report to the police, you don’t have to. There are still support services available to you. These can include counselling, support groups, or information and guidance on coping with sexual assault.
Something happened to someone I know
If someone you know has been sexually assaulted, here are some things you can do to support them:
- Listen to their story without judgment
- Listen to their story without telling them what to do
- Believe them
- Give them space to make the decision that feels right to them
- Help them find resources that offer support and information in the community such as a sexual assault centre
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