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Get Help - What if I am Being Abused? |
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| What if I'm Not Sure I am in a Bad Relationship? |
- Discuss Your Concerns - It is never too late to make your feelings clear with your partner. if expressing your concerns leads to more abuse, get help.
- Trust Your Gut - If you have concerns about someone you’re dating or want to date, trust your feelings. If the person refuses to discuss your concerns, you should not go out with them.
- Believe In Yourself - It’s common to question whether the abuse took place, whether it was really "that bad," and whether it was your fault. But it’s important to stand by your feelings. If you feel you were abused, then you were abused.
- Talk with someone. Tell a parent, a relative, a friend, a trusted adult, the school nurse, a doctor, a minister, or a school counselor.
- Call Domestic Violence Hotline or other available crisis line
- If you’ve been physically or sexually hurt, get medical attention
- If you fear you’ll be hurt, call the police
- Consider getting a legal protection order
- Consider getting counseling, even if the abuse happened long ago
- Call the domestic violence programs in your area CAWES 1-888-346-5643
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- Think of Your Safety - Abusive relationships tend to get worse, not better. Resist the temptation to give the person "one more chance." Realize that by the time you are asked for "one more chance" you have likely already given your partner numerous chances. Refuse to take phone calls and to return messages from the abuser.
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| Question: What if I am Being Abused? |
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REMEMBER! YOU HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO BE ABUSED IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP. THE SAFETY OF YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN COMES FIRST. LEAVE OR CALL 911 IF YOU ARE AT RISK. |
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Make sure you and your children are physically safe. Some safety tips to consider for your safety plan: |
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- Practice how to get out of your home safely;
- Have a bag packed ready;
- Make up a code word to use with your children, family, friends, and neighbours when you need the police;
- Always try to take your children with you or make arrangements to leave them with someone safe;
- Inform your children’s school or day care about who has permission to pick up your children;
- Open a savings account in your name to start to establish or increase your independence;
- Have copies of important documents (ex. Birth Certificates, Health cards for you and your children, SIN, immigration papers, or other legal papers such as custody papers) in a safety deposit box or with a friend;
- If you have pets, consider safety options for them;
- Look at options for safety – Women’s Shelter, a friend, family, neighbour, motel, etc.
- Know that you are not responsible for the abuse;
- Understand that the abuse and violence are not likely to stop without intervention.
- Talk to someone you trust about what is going on – secrecy gives abuse more power.
- Care for yourself – anything that you can do to enhance your physical or psychological health will assist you to get through the difficult times
- Spend time with healthy people. Even if they cannot help you directly
For more information on safety planning – please contact us at 346-5643 or 1-888-346-5643 for assistance. |
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