Our 24 hour support line is peer-based and operated by students with knowledge about a variety of different resources available to you related to housing, legal, financial, and academic support. For more resources, you can call the call SASSL at:
SASSL Support Line: 416-650-8056
SASSL Office Line: 416-736-2100 ext. 40345
Crisis Line Support
Assaulted Women’s Helpline
416-863-0511
Telephone support and counselling available in several languages
TTY 416-863-7868 / #7233 on your Bell Mobility phone
www.awhl.org
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre Crisis Line
416-597-8808
www.trccmwar.ca
Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line
1-800-268-9688
http://ckc.torontofoundation.ca/org/lesbian-gay-bi-trans-youth-line
Women’s Support Network Crisis Line
905-895-7313 (Local)
1-800-263.6734 (Toll-free)
Human trafficking crisis line: 905.758.5285
Trans Life Line (for trans and gender non-conforming folks)
1-877-330-6366
Gerstein Crisis Centre
416-929-5200
Health Resources:
Hassle Free Clinic, located on Gerrard St. in downtown Toronto, has been operating since 1973. They provide a range of services such as providing birth control, information about sex, sexuality, reproduction, STIs, confidential STI testing and treatment, anonymous HIV testing and support, and more. The Hassle Free Clinic website also provides links to other websites that can give you additional information on topics such as sex, STIs, abortion, and body image.
Runs the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre (SA/DVCC) which with comprehensive service available 24 hours a day, seven days week to women, men, and trans people who are victims / survivors of sexual assault and domestic / intimate partner violence. The Women’s College Hospital also offers the Trauma Therapy Program which is partly covered by OHIP.
Planned Parenthood is a pro-choice community health centre that advances and advocates for the sexual health, health, and well being of youth. Their health services include reproductive and sexual health such as access to birth control as a reduced cost and HIV/ STI testing, primary health care, and mental health services such as counselling and therapy.
Women’s Health in Women’s Hands
Women’s Health In Women’s Hands (WHIWH) Community Health Centre provides Primary Healthcare to Black Women and Women of Colour from the Caribbean, African, Latin American and South Asian communities in Metropolitan Toronto and surrounding municipalities.WHIWH inclusive multidisciplinary services include primary medical care for all women from the age of 16, mental health support programs with individual and group counseling, self advocacy programs, health promotion and education programs, Pre and Post Natal Care programs, HIV-AIDS Prevention, Support and Care, healthy living activities, support groups, supportive self care activities and a resource information centre
Counselling Services:
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is a specialized clinic for women experiencing violence. They provide therapeutic counselling, information and support through group-based and individual counselling programs for those that have experienced multiple forms of abuse including sexual violence. They also provide legal, housing and financial related support and resources.
TRCC/MWAR is a grassroots, women-run collective working towards a violence-free world by providing anti-oppressive, feminist peer support to survivors of sexual violence through support, education and activism. They offer counselling services, court support, support groups, and public education and supports.
Located in the Peel Region, this Centre offers free counselling for survivors in Brampton or Mississauga as part of the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Services program.
Sheena’s Place located in downtown Toronto was created in 1993, due to the death of Sheena Carpenter, a young woman with an eating disorder. Sheena’s Place is a center offering services and support for people with eating disorders, including hospital based programs, schools, agencies, therapists, and families. They offer a wide range of support programs for people affected by eating disorders and their families. They are 100% confidential and all the services they provide are free of charge.
Their provides individuals with client-centred, trauma-informed counselling no matter where they are at on their healing journey. Their counselling program includes crisis counselling, where a counsellor responds within 48 hours of initial contact and receives up to three appointments, and
ongoing counselling, where individuals work one-to-one with a counsellor for up to 6 months (renewable if more support is needed)
Counseling and Disability Services Centre
Offers free counselling services to students, faculty, and staff at York University.
They provide free short-term one-on-one and group-based counselling to people over 16. Their services are driven by a team of supervised volunteer counsellors with training and experience in mental health and psychotherapy. Services prioritize the experiences and support needs of LGBTQ2S people.
Legal Support
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is a specialized clinic for women experiencing violence. The Clinic provides free legal services to women who have experienced violence and abuse including:
- spousal assault (domestic violence)
- adult sexual assault
- childhood sexual abuse
- violence against you as a woman in your home country
They also help:
- address safety needs
- identify legal issues
- service users make informed decisions about legal action
- find the right legal help
York University Resources Related to Sexual Violence:
This office oordinates supports and resources for all members of the community that have experienced sexual violence, receives disclosures and complaints, facilitates safety planning, and assists survivors through the complaint process. The SVRO office was created following the approval of York University’s official Sexual Violence Policy in December of 2016 by the Board of Governors.
SVRO Office Phone- 416-736-5211
SVRO Location- 301 York Lanes
SVRO Email- thecentre@yorku.ca
The Office of Student Community Relations (OSCR)
The Office of Student Community Relations (OSCR) supports students impacted by critical incidents, facing personal crises or multiple complex issues. The Office of Student Community Relations supports students, parent/guardians and the community in its role as the University liaison in the management of critical incident cases. Other supports include contacting students and/or their family and assisting them by arranging appropriate referrals and support, both internal and external to York. OSCR works directly with the Office of the President, Faculties, Security Services, the Registrar and any other University unit that may be in involved. OSCR provides support for incidents such as, but not limited to, critical illness or injury of a student, student death, attempted suicide and sexual assault. OSCR advocates for students to secure academic accommodations, financial assistance, stop-outs/leaves and emergency housing. OSCR is also committed to fostering student success by upholding the behavioural expectations outlined in the Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities (CSRR). OSCR works with students to resolve complaints regarding inappropriate student behaviour either informally or through formal disciplinary processes.
OSCR Location- W128 Bennett Centre for Student Services
OSCR Office Line: (416) 736-5231
OSCR Email: oscr@yorku.ca
Book Resources Related to Sexual Violence:
- Queering Sexual Violence: Radical Voices from Within the Anti-Violence Movement Edited by Jennifer Patterson
- The Revolution Starts at Home: Confronting Intimate Violence Within Activist Communities Edited by Ching-In Chen, Jai Dulani, and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
- Color of Violence: The INCITE! Anthology Edited by Incite! Women of Colour Against Violence
- Conquest: Conquest and American Indian Genocide By Andrea Smith
Book Resources for Survivors:
- Courage to Heal By Ellen Bass and Laura Davis
- Surviving Sexual Violence: A Guide to Recovery and Empowerment by
Book Resources for Those Supporting Survivors
- Allies in Healing by Laura Davis