Navigating Off Campus Supports

Some people who experience sexual violence may not want to access campus resources. An incident may also occur outside of campus hours, or students may find themselves in need outside of campus hours. When navigating off-campus resources and supports, here are some important points to keep in mind:

  • If you feel unsafe or in danger you can try to find a safer place to go to. Perhaps a friend's place, public location or emergency shelter
  • If you are in immediate danger or need urgent medical attention, we encourage you to contact the police or ambulance services by calling 911
  • If you want to report to the police and the situation is not urgent (e.g., the sexual assault is not recent, and the person is not in danger), you can call the non-emergency number for the police in their community. This could be the Vancouver Police Department or a local RCMP Detachment.
  • If you are worried or have questions about calling the police, you can contact VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808 to find a victim service program for anonymous support and advocacy.

If you are unsure what service to connect with, on-campus resources can also help you navigate all of the following services and supports:

VictimLink BC
VictimLinkBC is a toll‐free, confidential, multilingual telephone service available across B.C. and the Yukon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence, including victims of human trafficking exploited for labour or sexual services. VictimLinkBC provides service in more than 150 languages, including many North American indigenous languages.
24/7 Crisis Line 1.800.563.0808
VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca

WAVAW
WAVAW provides immediate crisis assistance and emotional support, information and referrals 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The crisis line is free and confidential.
24/7 Crisis and Info Line 604.255.6344
24/7 Toll‐Free Crisis Line 1.877.392.7583

EmpowerMe
A mental health and wellness service that seeks to contribute to a resilient student community by supporting existing on-campus and student care mental health resources. Empower Me allows students to connect with qualified counsellors, consultants, and life coaches for a variety of issues. Services are available 24/7, and are confidential, multilingual, culturally sensitive, gender inclusive and faith inclusive.
Phone: 1.844.741.6389

LGBT Youthline
The Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line exists to provide service for youth, by youth that affirms the experiences and aspirations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, 2-spirited, queer and questioning youth.
Toll-Free Phone: 1.800.268.9688
Text: 416.964.4275
askus@youthline.ca
Live Chat: www.youthline.ca   

Trans Lifeline
A trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive. Trans Lifeline has a 24/7 Confidential hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people.
Phone: 1.877.330.6366

Hope for Wellness
The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to offer counselling and crisis intervention.
24/7 Crisis and Info Line 1.855.242.3310
Online Chat Counselling Service: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/

KUU-US Crisis Line
KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides 24-hour crisis support for indigenous peoples throughout British Columbia. Once the crisis issue has been identified, the level of severity for call handling is determined. The goal is to establish a non-judgmental approach to listening and problem solving. A support system is put into place where the caller is brought back to a pre-crisis state.
Toll-Free phone: 1.800.588.8717

Vancouver General Hospital Sexual Assault Service
The Sexual Assault Service is open and available for those who have experienced sexual violence. They have the option of going directly to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) Emergency Department to be seen by the Sexual Assault Service for care, or they can call BC Women's Hospital switchboard at (604) 875.2424 and ask to speak to the Sexual Assault Service. They will be connected directly to a Physician or Nurse Examiner on the service and they can help direct care.
Phone (VGH Emergency) 604.875.2881

BC Women’s Sexual Assault Service
Provides comprehensive and sensitive medical care, emotional support, and one to one counseling to anyone, 13 or older, who has been sexually assaulted within the past 7 days.  The service welcomes anyone, and are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.  Residents and non-residents of BC (including visitors to Canada) can access their service.
Phone (24/7 Switchboard) 604.875.2424

Trans Care BC
Trans Care BC is a BC‐wide information service and resource hub. They work to make sure people have the information they need to access gender-affirming health care and supports. They can be reached by phone, email, or by filling out an online form (communication responded to within a week due to higher volumes of calls and emails, so other resources recommended for urgent and crisis support).
Toll-Free Phone (9am-5pm, weekdays) 1.866.999.1514
BC Phone (9am-5pm, weekdays) 604.675.3647
transcareteam@phsa.ca
Online Form http://www.phsa.ca/transcarebc/about/contact

211 British Columbia Services Society
For information on emergency housing, shelters financial aid or legal support anyone can call 2-1-1 for assistance free of charge.

WAVAW
WAVAW provides immediate crisis assistance and emotional support, information and referrals 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The crisis line is free and confidential. WAVAW supports are currently functioning including: hospital accompaniment, police and court accompaniment, counselling, indigenous counselling and MMIWG2S Family Counselling. Note: WAVAW supports all Cis and trans women, Two-Spirit, trans and/or non-binary people who are survivors of sexualized violence. They do not currently offer their in-person services to cis-men.
24/7 Crisis and Info Line 604.255.6344
24/7 Toll‐Free Crisis Line 1.877.392.7583

Multi-lingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities (MOSAIC)
Free, confidential counselling support and multicultural outreach services for women who have experienced, or are at risk of, abuse, threats, or violence in an intimate relationship, sexual assault or childhood abuse. Service is available in Hindi, Korean, Punjabi, Russian and English. Victim Support Services are also available to all immigrants, refugees and multicultural populations of all genders and all crimes in Vancouver and Burnaby.
Phone (9am-5pm, weekdays) 236.521.7080
Stopping the Violence Email: women.support@mosaicbc.org
Victim Support Email: victim.support@mosaicbc.org

QMUNITY: BC’s Queer Resource Centre
Specialized staff and volunteers offer support, information, and referrals to queer, trans, and Two-Spirit people and their families. The centre’s offers counselling, information, referrals, and peer support through online resources.
General Line (9am‐5pm, weekdays) 604.684.5307 ext. 100
General Email: reception@qmunity.ca
Youth Support Line (9am‐5pm, weekdays) 604.684.5307 ext. 108
Youth Support Email: youth@qmunity.ca

Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS)
Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) Crisis line remains open, providing emotional support to women experiencing gender‐based domestic violence and/or uncertainty during difficult times. BWSS is committed providing relevant services and support for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, queer, transgender, two-spirit, and non-binary survivors of violence.
24/7 Crisis and Info Line 604.687.1867
24/7 Toll‐Free Crisis Line 1.855.687.1868
24/7 Text Line 604.652.1867
Email: intake@bwss.org

Shelter Safe
ShelterSafe.ca is an online resource to help women and their children seeking safety from violence and abuse. The clickable map will serve as a fast resource to connect women with the nearest shelter that can offer safety, hope and support.
https://www.sheltersafe.ca/

BC Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse
A non-profit society established to provide therapeutic services for males who have been sexually abused at some time in their lives. They are currently open and available for contact to inquire about current services.
Vancouver Phone (9am-5pm, Mon-Sat) 604.682.6482
Surrey Phone (9am-5pm, Mon & Wed) 778.222.6885
Email victimservices@bc-malesurvivors.com

Kids Helps Phone
Kids Help Phone is a 24/7, national support service. They offer professional counseling, information and referrals, and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French.
Phone 1.800.668.6868
Text: Text CONNECT to 686868

Youth Against Violence Line
The YAV Line is a province-wide, 24/7, multilingual resource that provides confidential assistance to young people affected by youth violence or crime.
Phone: 1.800.680.4264
Text: 604.836.0885

Family Liaison Units
Family Information Liaison Units (FILUs) provide specialized services to families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Family Information Liaison Units are a “one-stop information service” for all families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Families do not need to have participated in the National Inquiry to contact a FILU for assistance. FILUs work directly with families in a culturally grounded and trauma-informed manner to gather the information they seek from government agencies and address outstanding questions about the loss of their loved ones.
BC Toll-Free Phone: 1.888.355.0064
Email: BCFILU@gov.bc.ca
Website

Love is Respect
Loveisrespect is the ultimate resource to empower youth to prevent and end dating abuse. Loveisrespect is an American resource, however, their website provides comprehensive education on healthy, unhealthy, and abusive dating relationships and behaviors.
Website: https://www.loveisrespect.org/about/
Chat: www.loveisrespect.org

Indicating External Link 11 Truths Every Survivor of Intimate Partner Violence Needs to Know

Indicating External Link Speak Up & Stay Safe(r): A Guide to Protecting Yourself From Online Harassment

Indicating External Link Heartmob: Report Harassment, Receive Support, and Help End Online Harassment