Seek help and offer assistance

Seek help

• Talk to someone you trust, such as a friend, family member, colleague, neighbor, counselor, coach, or teacher.
• Get help now: Access crisis lines, shelters, and other supports.
• Consult the list of additional support services to find more resources in your area to help you – sexual assault services, shelters, call centre helplines, and many more.
• Make a safety plan. Take actions that make sense and are safe for you and your family.
• Youth who are experiencing abuse can call the Kids Help Phone toll-free at 1-800-668-6868. It operates 24/7, 365 days a year. The call is free of charge and anonymous. Someone will listen and help you. You can read more about abuse and coping strategies at Kids Help Phone. For more youth resources, visit Get help now: youth supports. 
• In situations of immediate danger to you or someone else call 911 or your local police service.

Safely respond and offer your assistance

If you know or see someone being harassed or abused, showing the person they are not alone is important. Saying “I believe you,” naming your concerns, asking "Are you okay?" or "Is there any way I can help?" are significant ways to show your support.

It is important to remember that situations involving violence can escalate and become unsafe, so you should exercise caution to avoid putting yourself and other people in harm's way. Particularly in situations of intimate partner violence you must only provide support in ways that the person is asking for and that does not increase their risk of experiencing violence. In situations of immediate danger to you or someone else call 911 or your local police service.

If you suspect that someone is being abused, but they do not wish to discuss this with you, you can find helpful information and resources to share with them at Get help now.

Report child abuse

If you have reason to believe a child is being abused or neglected, you must report it by calling 911, the police, or child welfare services in your area