Intimate partner violence against men and boys: Information and resources

If you're in immediate danger or need urgent medical support, call 911. Leave this website

Information and resources to support men and boys who are impacted by intimate partner violence.

On this page

Background

Men and boys can experience different kinds of family violence, like:

'Intimate partner violence' means the different types of harm someone like your spouse or partner can cause, even if you're not together anymore. It can affect anyone who has begun a relationship, and can happen:

Recognizing intimate partner violence

It can be difficult to recognize violence in your own relationships for many reasons. Sometimes you might not realize it because you love your partner, or because you think that their violent behaviour isn't that serious.

Some men and boys find it hard to talk about intimate partner violence because of pressure to seem:

Being mistreated by a loved one is not a sign of weakness, and neither is asking for support when you need it.

Intimate partner violence can take many forms. Learning about it can help you recognize unhealthy behaviour in your relationships and decide when to seek support. For example, your partner or ex-partner might:

Intimate partner violence doesn't have to include physical violence to be abusive.

How to recognize if you or your children are being abused

Health consequences

Intimate partner violence can have a significant effect on your health. Some of the impacts can be complex and last for a long time, even after the relationship is over. They can include:

These can get worse depending on:

It isn't easy to address and heal from trauma, but you don't have to face this alone.

Getting help

Intimate partner violence is always wrong and no one should have to suffer in silence. Reach out to someone you trust, like a:

These resources can also give you support, validation, advice and referrals if you:

National

Kids Help Phone

Available across Canada 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to kids, teens and young adults who want confidential and anonymous care from trained responders.

Telephone: 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free)
Text: CONNECT to 686868

Kids Help Phone

Policy Centre for Victim Issues

The centre develops policy and criminal law reform, administers the Victims Fund, and shares information about issues of importance to victims of crime.

Criminal justice information and resources for victims of crime

Provincial and territorial

Alberta

Family Violence Info Line

Call, text, or chat online. Trained staff can help you get to safety and give you information on supports and financial aid. Help is confidential. Phone support is available in more than 170 languages.

Telephone: 310-1818
Text:
310-1818

Family Violence Info Line

Men's Helpline

Helpline for men in Alberta who need support.

Telephone: 1-833-327-6367

Men's Helpline

Wheatland Crisis Society

Crisis line and other services for individuals and families, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Provides people in rural areas with:

  • outreach
  • counselling
  • safety planning
  • emergency shelter

Telephone: 403-934-6634

Wheatland Crisis Society

Waypoints: Domestic Family Violence Crisis Line

Crisis line that can help people across Alberta who have been impacted by intimate partner violence access services such as:

  • legal help
  • counselling
  • basic needs

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 1 780-743-1190

Waypoints: Domestic Family Violence Crisis Line

Calgary Counselling Centre

Group and individual counselling for men who have experienced intimate partner violence in the Calgary area.

Telephone: 833-827-4229

Calgary Counselling Centre

Métis Child and Family Services Society

Safety planning and support for people who are experiencing intimate partner violence in the Edmonton area.

Telephone: 780-452-6100

Métis Child and Family Services Society

British Columbia

VictimLink BC

Confidential, multilingual service available across BC. Provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence.

Telephone: 1-800-563-0808 (toll-free)
Text: 1-800-563-0808

VictimLink BC

Men's Therapy Centre

Individual and group counselling for men who have experienced violence, including:

  • trans people
  • Two Spirit people
  • gender fluid people

Telephone: 250-381-6367
Telephone: 1-888-494-3888 (Vancouver Island Crisis Line)

Men's Therapy Centre

Fraserside Community Services Society

Emergency shelter accessible to men with children. In-house counselling also available.

Telephone: 604-522-3722

Fraserside Community Services Society

North Coast Transition Society

Helpline for people experiencing housing challenges near Prince Rupert. Also offers family counselling. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 250-627-8588
Text: 250-600-1983

North Coast Transition Society

Manitoba

Family Violence Prevention Program

Crisis line providing information, support, and referrals to other services and shelters for people who have been impacted by family violence. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 1 877-977-0007
Text: 204-792-5302

Family Violence Prevention Program

Recovery of Hope Counselling

Multiple locations throughout Manitoba where men and families can access low or no cost counselling.

Telephone: 1 866-493-6202
Telephone: 1-888-617-7715 (24-hour crisis line)

Recovery of Hope Counselling

Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line

Crisis line where people who have been impacted by sexual violence can access support and service referral. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 1 888-292-7565

Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line

Men's Relationship Program

Provides counselling, group programming and practical support to men and their families who have been impacted by family violence.

Telephone: 204-914-9078

Men's Relationship Program

Elmwood Community Resource Centre

Provides trauma-informed counselling to people who have been impacted by family violence. Individual, family, and men's group counselling available.

Telephone: 204-982-1720

Elmwood Community Resource Centre

New Brunswick

Chimo Helpline

Provincial crisis phone line, accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to all residents of New Brunswick. Provides confidential support, crisis intervention and referrals.

Telephone: 1-800-667-5005

Chimo Helpline

Beausejour Family Crisis Resource Centre

Provides counselling services, parenting support and resource referrals to anyone impacted by family violence. Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 506-533-9100

Beausejour Family Crisis Resource Centre

Violence Prevention Centre

Counselling, support, and help navigating the justice system for people who have experienced violence.

Telephone: 506-743-5449

Violence Prevention Centre

Sexual Violence New Brunswick

Offers support for people who have been impacted by violence, including a support group for men who have experienced sexual violence.

Telephone: 506-454-0437

Sexual Violence New Brunswick

Liberty Lane Inc.

Outreach services for people who have been impacted by intimate partner violence. Can provide support, danger assessment and referrals to other services.

Telephone: 506-451-2120

Liberty Lane Inc.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Domestic Violence Helpline

Province-wide crisis call and text line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Callers will be connected to a trained professional who can provide assistance and referrals to other resources.

Telephone: 1 888-709-7090

Domestic Violence Help Line

NL Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre

Offers a 24/7 crisis line where people who have been impacted by sexual violence can access support and referral information.

Telephone: 1 800-726-2743

NL Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre

Northwest Territories

NWT Helpline

Provides support, advice and referral to additional services in your area. Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 1 800-661-0844

NWT Helpline

Community Councillor

Provides free, in-person counselling services across the territory.

Community Councillor

Nova Scotia

Men's Helpline

Crisis line for men experiencing hardship. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 211

Men's Helpline

Family Service of Eastern Nova Scotia – Men's Health Centre

Provides counselling to individuals, families or couples. Also offers specialized men's services, including:

  • parenting supports
  • counselling for male victims of violence
  • referrals to shelter and additional resources

Telephone: 1 866-330-5952 
Telephone: 902-863-2358 (Antigonish office)

Family Service of Eastern Nova Scotia – Men's Health Centre

Nunavut

Kamatsiaqtut Nunavut Help Line

Crisis line that provides advice and referrals to resources in your area. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 867-979-3333
Telephone: 1 800-265-3333

Kamatsiaqtut Nunavut Help Line

Ontario

Nova Vita

Services that provide people who have been impacted by family violence in the Brantford area:

  • counselling
  • parenting support groups
  • a crisis line and online chat
  • assistance with safety planning and resource navigation

Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 519-752-4357
Text: 519-752-4357

Nova Vita

Akwesasne Family Wellness Program

Provides services to members of the Akwesasne community (on or off-reserve) who have been impacted by family and intimate partner violence. Services include:

  • a crisis line
  • counselling
  • outreach staff
  • cultural services
  • emergency transportation
  • support with resource navigation
  • emergency shelter for men with or without children

Services are provided in English, Mohawk and French. Crisis line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 1 800-480-4208

Akwesasne Family Wellness Program

Ganohkwasra: Family Assault Support Services

Services for Indigenous people in the Six Nations Reserve area include:

  • a crisis line
  • counselling
  • housing support
  • emergency shelter for men with or without children

Crisis line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Preference will be given to members of the Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations.

Telephone: 519-445-4324

Ganohkwasra: Family Assault Support Services

Counselling Centre of East Algoma

Family violence counsellors can provide free or low-cost support, case management and resource referrals to people who have been impacted by family or intimate partner violence in the East Algoma area.

Telephone: 705-848-2585

Counselling Centre of East Algoma

Hospital-based Domestic Violence Treatment and Care Programs

Provides crisis and follow-up care to people who have been impacted by sexual or intimate partner violence. Services include:

  • medical care
  • resource referrals
  • short-term counselling
  • evidence documentation

Services may vary between centres.

Hospital-based Domestic Violence Treatment and Care Programs

Prince Edward Island

PEI Family Violence Prevention Services

Emergency call and text line and online chat available through the website. Provides outreach services for anyone experiencing intimate partner violence. Outreach services include:

  • support
  • referrals
  • safety planning
  • court and law enforcement advocacy and accompaniment

Emergency call and text lines and online chat service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 1 800-240-9894 (toll-free within PEI)
Telephone: 902-626-5585 (Men's Services Coordinator)

PEI Family Violence Prevention Services

Quebec

SOS violence conjugale

Crisis call, text and online chat available for people who are, or think they may be, experiencing intimate partner violence. Provides bilingual support, advice, and referral to other resources.

Crisis call, text and online chat available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 1-800-363-9010
Text: 438-601-1211

SOS violence conjugale

Réseau Maisons Oxygène

Fathers and their children can access emergency housing, support, and referrals to other services. Services and shelters located across the province. Some locations offer services in English, depending on the teams in place.

Telephone: 438-504-4000
Email: reseau@maisonsoxygene.ca

Réseau Maisons Oxygène

SHASE (Support for Sexually Assaulted Men – Estrie)

Provides individual and group support for men in the Estrie area who have been impacted by sexual assault.

Telephone: 819-933-3555

SHASE (Support for Sexually Assaulted Men – Estrie)

AideHomme (Centre de ressources pour hommes du sud de Lanaudière)

Provides French-language services, including counselling, resource referrals and support groups to men impacted by family violence.

Telephone:450-961-1241

AideHomme (Centre de ressources pour hommes du sud de Lanaudière) (French only)

Saskatchewan

West Central Crisis and Family Support Centre Inc.

Crisis line and additional services for people experiencing family violence in West central Saskatchewan. Provides advice, referrals, and counselling.

Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 306-463-1860

West Central Crisis and Family Support Centre Inc.

Envision Counselling and Support Centre

Provides free counselling to people who have been impacted by sexual, intimate partner or family violence at offices across Southeast Saskatchewan.

Envision Counselling and Support Centre

Partners Family Services

Provides outreach services to people who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing violence in their home in the Humboldt area. Services include:

  • emotional support
  • danger assessment
  • referrals to other supports

Telephone: 306-682-4135

Partners Family Services

North East Outreach and Support Services

Provides a crisis line and rapid access counselling to anyone who has been impacted by family or intimate partner violence. Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 1 800-611-6349

North East Outreach and Support Services

Family Services Regina

Provides support to people who have been impacted by intimate partner or family violence in the Regina area. Services include:

  • counselling
  • safety planning
  • assistance with resource and justice system navigation

Telephone: 306-757-6675

Family Services Regina

Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service

Crisis workers can assist people in the Saskatoon area with emotional support, danger assessments and resource referrals. Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 1 306-933-6200

Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service

Southwest Crisis Services

Services available to people who have been impacted by family and intimate partner violence include:

  • counselling
  • resource referrals
  • a crisis line, available 24 ours a day, 7 days a week

Telephone: 306-778-3386 (crisis)
Telephone: 306-750-6588 (support counselling)

Southwest Crisis Services

Yukon

VictimLink

Crisis line for people who are, or think they may be, experiencing family violence. Provides advice and referral to other services in your area. Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 1 800-563-0808

VictimLink

Mentall Wellness and Substance Use Services

Can provide services to people and families who have been impacted by family violence, including counseling and crisis management.

Telephone: 867-456-3838
Telephone: 1 866-456-3838

Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services

Related links

Page details

Date modified: