A YWCA Dating Safe Resource
It might feel weird to talk about dating violence with your friends, but did you know that approximately 30% of youth in Canada experience dating violence at one point in their life? That’s close to one in three of your peers!
Scroll down to check out the resources we put together for you.
Understanding Dating Violence
Controlling, abusive, and aggressive behaviour can include a combination of verbal, emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Learn what dating violence is, how to recognize it, and what to do if you or someone you know is experiencing it.
Healthy Relationship Skills
Not sure what is considered unhealthy or unhealthy in a relationship? Wondering if it’s normal for your partner to want to know where you are and who you’re talking to? Learn about boundaries and healthy relationship skills in this post.
It's important to learn what healthy relationships can look like, how to identify dating violence and where to seek help. It’s also crucial to think about how issues like colonialism, white supremacy, patriarchy, cis-hetero normativity, ableism and classism affect how some people experience dating violence.
If you are experiencing or know someone experiencing dating violence, please visit the sites below for support:
Kids Help Phone
‘Immediate and caring support, information and, if necessary, referral to a local community or social service agency.’
Phone: 1 (800) 668-6868
VictimLinkBC
‘24-hour confidential crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence and provides information and referral services to victims of crime.’
Phone: 1 (800) 563-0808
Youth Against Violence Line
The Youth Against Violence Line is a 24/7 anonymous and confidential line to talk to trained support workers. You can contact them about bullying, gang activity, harassment, intimidation, sexual exploitation, and many other issues. This service is also available in multiple languages.
Phone: 1 (800) 680-4264
Text: (604) 836-6381
Email: info@youthagainstviolenceline.com
Inuit and First Nations Hope for Wellness Line
The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or you can use the chat box at the link below to connect with a counsellor online.
Phone: 1 (855) 242-3310
‘QMUNITY: BC’s Queer Resource Center
Information, education, support groups, advocacy and referrals for lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and questioning youth, adults and older adults and allies.
Phone: (604) 684-5307
