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Sexual Violence Helpline

The Sexual Violence Helpline is the source of resources for anyone affected by sexual violence in all regions of Québec.

Confidential, anonymous, free of charge, offered in French or English

Telephone line: 1-888-933-9007

Chat line : sexualviolencehelpline.ca

The Sexual Violence Helpline team supports people of all ages (from children to seniors), whether the sexual violence they experienced happened yesterday or a long time ago. Regardless of your gender identity or cultural identity, we will provide a listening ear and suggest resources that can help you. The assistance and support you receive will be adapted to your needs identified during the conversation regardless of the form of sexual violence you experienced—whether it was assault, exploitation, harassment, cyberviolence, etc.

Our counsellors provide support not only for victims, but for their loved ones and people who work with sexual violence victims as well.

The Sexual Violence Helpline has been helping victims of sexual assault since 2010. Initially known as the Provincial Helpline for Victims of Sexual Assault, the service became the Sexual Violence Helpline in 2021 to better reflect its service offering, which is no longer limited to sexual assault victims but all forms of sexual violence. This listening and referral service is managed by the MSAC, mandated and funded by the Ministère de la Justice du Québec, and supported by Québec’s Secrétariat à la condition féminine.

To understand the forms of sexual violence and all existing resources, visit sexualviolencehelpline.ca.

Specialized intervention

A team of counsellors who have been specially trained in helping victims of sexual violence are ready to respond to various types of situations. Our experienced counsellors’ different backgrounds (victimology, sexology, social work) enrich the team’s combined expertise. Their knowledge and skills are constantly expanded and updated through ongoing training in best practices and the diverse realities of sexual violence victims. 

Every intervention is based on your needs. We know what questions to ask in order to provide you with the best information, while fully respecting your autonomy. Every conversation is a separate intervention anchored in the here and now. We use active listening and empathy to encourage individuals to make the connection between their experiences and their emotions, as well as to make the best use of their personal resources. 

Our intervention protocols help us to provide individuals with comprehensive, appropriate support based on the type of violence in question, the situation of the person concerned, or the need expressed at the time of the conversation. These protocols are based on the Sexual Violence Helpline’s years of experience, supported by numerous expert publications and fine-tuned by the expertise of our many partners.

A bank of knowledge

Our counsellors’ knowledge is backed up by a provincial directory of a multitude of inclusive, varied resources. Our database includes all specialized resources for victims of sexual violence (CALACS [community centres for victims of sexual assault], designated centres for medico-social services, etc.) and others that respond to their many needs (legal clinics, shelters, etc.). 

Our resource directory is systematically updated in order to provide individuals asking for help with the latest information. Our referrals include contact information, services offered and population groups served, depending on gender identity, immigration status and age, for example.

Collaboration

The Sexual Violence Helpline is also mandated to respond to questions from fieldworkers by proposing information and possibilities for intervention. We combine our strengths with those of our partners to strengthen and solidify available resources. Programs like the Social Collective’s Order an Angelot and The Beacon of the Freed’s Lueur (Glow) encourage concerned individuals to contact the Sexual Violence Helpline at any time to obtain support for a victim. We also collaborate by sitting on various roundtables and committees and by offering training to others who work in the field. 

Emergency Financial Assistance Line (Ligne d’aide financière d’urgence or LAFU)

The Sexual Violence Helpline manages LAFU’s sexual violence service. This resource is available to help fieldworkers ensure the safety of victims of domestic and/or sexual violence in emergency situations. To find out more about this service, or if you are a fieldworker who would like to apply for assistance, visit lafu.ca.