Sexual violence is broad and includes a range of behaviours, such as sexual assault, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism, tech-facilitated sexual violence, and others. Different experiences may suggest different courses of action. Contact the SVPS Centre for help understanding your options and next steps, and for assistance in navigating the supports and services available to you.
Go to a safe place
Go somewhere you can feel safe and comfortable, like your own home, a friend’s place or with family. You can also go to the hospital or a shelter, or contact the SVPS Centre for support. You may also want to consider contacting the municipal police.
Get medical attention
Even if you do not see or feel any injuries, specialized care is available at local Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centres.
Care Centres can also collect forensic evidence. Evidence collection will not initiate a report to police or the University. For evidence collection:
- It is best to visit a Care Centre within 72 hours.
- Try to refrain from changing or taking a shower to preserve evidence.
It may still be possible to collect some evidence even if more than 72 hours have passed or you have showered and changed.
Reach out for support
Consider seeking support from someone you trust such as a friend, co-worker or family member. The Centre is also here for you. We provide referrals to on- and off-campus resources like counsellors, distress lines, group counselling, and more.
You may want both short- and longer-term support. Some people find therapy helpful. Others choose to connect to their faith community or to other cultural resources. We can help you find the right people to support your own healing.
Practice Self-Care
Be mindful and gentle with yourself. Look after yourself emotionally and physically. Here are some self-care activity ideas:
- Going for a walk.
- Doing deep breathing exercises.
- The 5-4-3-2-1 ground exercise.
- A call/chat with someone you trust.
A full list of additional self-care, relaxation, and grounding techniques is available from Women’s College Hospital.
Utilize other supports and resources
Featured Resource
REES (Respect. Educate. Empower Survivors.) is an encrypted documentation platform where users can navigate support and make choices about how information is shared. It allows users to record as little or as much as they would like, and provides anonymous chat and disclosure options.
Finding emergency help
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1. If you or someone else is feeling lost, hopeless, or thinking about suicide, please call 9-8-8 or visit 988.ca for more information. Other 24/7 crisis support lines are also available after-hours.
Contact the SVPS Centre
We’re here to help you understand, access and navigate supports such as counselling, medical services, academic or workplace accommodations, financial aid and legal aid.
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Healing care kits
Care kits are one of the ways that we share healing resources beyond in-person appointment time. Research shows that sensory and tactile activities can be healing when it comes to processing trauma.