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SEXUAL VIOLENCE AWARENESS

“No amount of me trying to explain myself was doing any good. I didn't even know what was going on inside of me, so how could I have explained it to them?”

What is Sexual Violence?

Sexual violence is defined as any sexual act or act targeting a person’s sexuality, gender identity or gender expression. The act can be both psychological or physical in nature; it is committed, threatened, or attempted against an individual without the person’s consent. Sexual violence is a broad term that includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, indecent exposure, voyeurism, stalking, non-consensual condom removing, and sexual exploitation.

What Can You Do?

S.T.R.O.N.G is an acronym to help individuals understand what they can do to help support victims of sexual violence.

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S - Start by listening. Do not pry for details or make personal assumptions regarding the situation. The individual should be in control of what they want to share, and what they do not want to share. 

 

T - Talk to them. Let them know the situation wasn’t their fault, regardless of the circumstances. The only individual at fault is the person who violated boundaries. 

 

R - Respect confidentiality. Sharing a story involving trauma is extremely difficult. The survivor should have control of who knows about their circumstances.

 

O - Open-minded. Remember that you are speaking to a victim - do not allow narrow perspectives to cloud your judgement regarding the situation. The victim is not at fault regardless of substance use, what they wore, where they were, or who they were with. 

 

N - Never push the victim into taking specific actions. Remember that reporting to the police is not every survivor’s preferred method of justice. Ensure the victim is in a safe space, and away from the assailant. 

 

G - Give love and support. Empathize with the victim. Understand that every survivor has a different way of approaching and dealing with trauma - do not place expectations on how the victim should react to the situation. Always remember to take care of yourself, as these accounts can impact you as well. Make sure you are in the right state of mind to provide support.

What Can The Wellness Project Offer?

Peer Alliance is a 1 to 1 support system! Everything is confidential during these sessions and will aid you through transitioning in these tough situations. Please check out Peer Alliance on the one to one support page.

Additional Resources

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  • Lakeridge Health: https://www.lakeridgehealth.on.ca/en/ourservices/resources/dv.pd
    • Offers counselling, support, and safety measures to people who have been assaulted within the past year. This resource can also be used to report medical emergencies for assault victims.
       
  • Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres: http://sexualassaultsupport.ca/support/
    • Offers a phone line available 24 hours. They are able to counsel, give support, and provide information to an assault survivor’s family, friends etc.
       
  • Paths of Courage Healing and Retreat Centre: https://www.pathsofcourage.com/
    • This gives the opportunity to participate in a free one week program, which strives to help assault survivors recover, and heal
       
  • Durham Rape Crisis Centre: https://drcc.ca/
    • ​Offers a 24 hour crisis line. Provide opportunity for assault women survivors age 16 and up for counselling, support and most importantly someone to talk to and listen to.
       
  • Human Rights Legal Support Centre: www.hrlsc.on.ca/share
    • ​Free confidential service for Ontario workers who have experienced harassment and/or sexual assault in the workplace, legal information and advice, referrals, and community outreach.
       
  • New Starts For Women: http://www.newstartsforwomen.com/
    • Offers emergency shelter for abused women and their children, offers a 24 hour crisis line, and provides counselling to women and children
       
  • Toronto Central - Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault: https://www.torontocentralhealthline.ca/listServices.aspx?id=10669&region=Toronto
    • Victims and survivors of physical, sexual, emotional, or financial abuse can find emergency shelter and housing, health care, legal services, emotional support, counselling, system navigation services, and accompaniment services for interviews or appointments. Intervention and prevention services often focus on abuse in the home or workplace, sexual assault, violent crime, or human trafficking.
       
  • Sexual Assault Support in Ontario: https://sexualassaultsupport.ca/
    • Get free counselling and information on sexual violence from a sexual assault centre in Ontario
       

  • Assaulted Women’s Helpline (Toronto): www.awhl.org​

    • Provides information and referrals to lawyers, counselling and support programs for survivors of violence in more than 150 languages. This service is available 24 hours a day
       

  • Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres: www.casac.ca

    • Free counselling and information on sexual violence from a sexual assault centre in Ontario
       

  • Ontario Network of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care: www.sadvtreatmentcentres.ca

    • Treatment Centres
       

  • Victim Services Toronto: victimservicestoronto.com

    • Provides 24/7 immediate crisis response, intervention, and prevention services including crisis response programs, counselling, community referrals, safety planning, mediation, court support.
       

  • Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Counselling Program: Toll free:  1-855-424-1100 ext. 338; Tel: 416-515-1100 ext. 338

    • ​Short-term, immediate counselling for child victims of Internet sexual exploitation. A victim’s immediate family members may also be eligible.
       

  • Partnership with the Centre de Santé Communautaire de Hamilton/Niagara and the Hamilton Regional Indian Centrel: sacha.ca

    • Offers culturally-appropriate services for French-speaking and Aboriginal/First Nations men, 24 hour support line.
       

  • Centre for Treatment of Sexual Abuse and Childhood Trauma (CTSACT): www.centrefortreatment.com, 613-233-4929

    • *Fee for service: children, adults adolescents, couples, families; members of First Nations and Inuit communities; members of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender communities. English, French, Arabic, Farsi, Persian
       

  • Support Services for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse: 1-866-887-0015

    • 24 hour, multilingual, toll-free phone line for immediate crisis and referral services for male survivors of recent and historical sexual abuse.
       

  • Male Survivor’s Support Line: 1-866-887-001

    • 24-hour, multilingual, toll-free phone line for immediate crisis and referral services for male survivors of recent and historical sexual abuse
       

  • Canadian Centre for Men and Families: 

    • Provides a range of mental health, legal, parenting, and abuse support programs (including those for survivors of sexual assault) geared to boys, men, fathers and their families.
       

  • Ontario Women’s Justice Network: owjn.org/getting-support

    • A comprehensive list of resources, including legal. 
       

  • Support Services for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse: 1-866-887-0015

    • 24-hour, multilingual, toll-free phone line for immediate crisis and referral services
       

  • Sexual Assault Crisis Centre of Essex County for Men and Youth 13+yrs: https://saccwindsor.net/about-sacc-2/

    • 519-253-3100, Toll-Free 1 -844-900-7222, Counsellors are educated and trained to work together with you. They have made a commitment to the community to help survivors of sexual violence. We help women, men and children.
       

  • Seniors Safety Line: www.elderabuseontario.com/what-is-elder-abuse/help-for-seniors/

    • The SSL provides contact and referral information for local agencies across the province that can assist in cases of elder abuse. Trained counsellors also provide safety planning and supportive counseling for older adults who are being abused or at-risk of abuse. Family members and service providers can also call for information about community services.
       

  • Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youthline: https://www.youthline.ca/

    • Toll free: 1-800-268-9688, text messages only (SMS): 647-694-4275. The Youth Line offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through our telephone, text and chat services.

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