Intimate partner violence against men and boys: Information and resources
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Information and resources to support men and boys who are impacted by intimate partner violence.
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Background
Men and boys can experience different kinds of family violence, like:
- child abuse
- elder abuse
- intimate partner violence
'Intimate partner violence' means the different types of harm someone like your spouse or partner can cause, even if you're not together anymore. It can affect anyone who has begun a relationship, and can happen:
- regardless of your and your partner's:
- sex
- gender identities
- sexual orientations
- no matter what type of relationship you have, like:
- dating
- a marriage
- a common-law marriage
- at any time during a relationship, and even after it has ended
- even if you don't live together or haven't been sexually intimate
Recognizing intimate partner violence
It can be difficult to recognize violence in your own relationships for many reasons. Sometimes you might not realize it because you love your partner, or because you think that their violent behaviour isn't that serious.
Some men and boys find it hard to talk about intimate partner violence because of pressure to seem:
- strong
- in control
- like they don't need help
Being mistreated by a loved one is not a sign of weakness, and neither is asking for support when you need it.
Intimate partner violence can take many forms. Learning about it can help you recognize unhealthy behaviour in your relationships and decide when to seek support. For example, your partner or ex-partner might:
- physically harm you or try to physically harm you
- threaten to lie about you to:
- authorities
- child services
- your workplace
- humiliate or belittle you with constant insults
- this can include comments about your masculinity
- threaten to hurt themselves or others if you leave
- try to control what you do and who you see outside your home
- pressure or force you into sexual acts that you're not comfortable with
- isolate or control you by monitoring or limiting your use of technology
- lie about you to family or friends to try to hurt your other relationships
Intimate partner violence doesn't have to include physical violence to be abusive.
How to recognize if you or your children are being abused
Health consequences
Intimate partner violence can have a significant effect on your health. Some of the impacts can be complex and last for a long time, even after the relationship is over. They can include:
- PTSD
- anxiety
- physical injury
- depression and suicidal thoughts
- using substances to try to cope with trauma and pain
These can get worse depending on:
- how severe the violence was
- how long the violence lasted
- how often you experienced violence
It isn't easy to address and heal from trauma, but you don't have to face this alone.
Getting help
Intimate partner violence is always wrong and no one should have to suffer in silence. Reach out to someone you trust, like a:
- friend
- family member
- health or social service provider
These resources can also give you support, validation, advice and referrals if you:
- are experiencing violence now
- want to talk about past violence
National
Kids Help Phone
Available across Canada 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to kids, teens and young adults who want confidential and anonymous care from trained responders.
Telephone: 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free)
Text: CONNECT to 686868
Policy Centre for Victim Issues
The centre develops policy and criminal law reform, administers the Victims Fund, and shares information about issues of importance to victims of crime.
Criminal justice information and resources for victims of crime
Provincial and territorial
Alberta
Family Violence Info Line
Call, text, or chat online. Trained staff can help you get to safety and give you information on supports and financial aid. Help is confidential. Phone support is available in more than 170 languages.
Telephone: 310-1818
Text: 310-1818
Men's Helpline
Wheatland Crisis Society
Crisis line and other services for individuals and families, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Provides people in rural areas with:
- outreach
- counselling
- safety planning
- emergency shelter
Telephone: 403-934-6634
Waypoints: Domestic Family Violence Crisis Line
Crisis line that can help people across Alberta who have been impacted by intimate partner violence access services such as:
- legal help
- counselling
- basic needs
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 1 780-743-1190
Calgary Counselling Centre
Group and individual counselling for men who have experienced intimate partner violence in the Calgary area.
Telephone: 833-827-4229
Métis Child and Family Services Society
Safety planning and support for people who are experiencing intimate partner violence in the Edmonton area.
Telephone: 780-452-6100
British Columbia
VictimLink BC
Confidential, multilingual service available across BC. Provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence.
Telephone: 1-800-563-0808 (toll-free)
Text: 1-800-563-0808
Men's Therapy Centre
Individual and group counselling for men who have experienced violence, including:
- trans people
- Two Spirit people
- gender fluid people
Telephone: 250-381-6367
Telephone: 1-888-494-3888 (Vancouver Island Crisis Line)
Fraserside Community Services Society
Emergency shelter accessible to men with children. In-house counselling also available.
Telephone: 604-522-3722
North Coast Transition Society
Helpline for people experiencing housing challenges near Prince Rupert. Also offers family counselling. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 250-627-8588
Text: 250-600-1983
Manitoba
Family Violence Prevention Program
Crisis line providing information, support, and referrals to other services and shelters for people who have been impacted by family violence. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 1 877-977-0007
Text: 204-792-5302
Recovery of Hope Counselling
Multiple locations throughout Manitoba where men and families can access low or no cost counselling.
Telephone: 1 866-493-6202
Telephone: 1-888-617-7715 (24-hour crisis line)
Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line
Crisis line where people who have been impacted by sexual violence can access support and service referral. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 1 888-292-7565
Men's Relationship Program
Provides counselling, group programming and practical support to men and their families who have been impacted by family violence.
Telephone: 204-914-9078
Elmwood Community Resource Centre
Provides trauma-informed counselling to people who have been impacted by family violence. Individual, family, and men's group counselling available.
Telephone: 204-982-1720
New Brunswick
Chimo Helpline
Provincial crisis phone line, accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to all residents of New Brunswick. Provides confidential support, crisis intervention and referrals.
Telephone: 1-800-667-5005
Beausejour Family Crisis Resource Centre
Provides counselling services, parenting support and resource referrals to anyone impacted by family violence. Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 506-533-9100
Violence Prevention Centre
Counselling, support, and help navigating the justice system for people who have experienced violence.
Telephone: 506-743-5449
Sexual Violence New Brunswick
Offers support for people who have been impacted by violence, including a support group for men who have experienced sexual violence.
Telephone: 506-454-0437
Liberty Lane Inc.
Outreach services for people who have been impacted by intimate partner violence. Can provide support, danger assessment and referrals to other services.
Telephone: 506-451-2120
Newfoundland and Labrador
Domestic Violence Helpline
Province-wide crisis call and text line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Callers will be connected to a trained professional who can provide assistance and referrals to other resources.
Telephone: 1 888-709-7090
NL Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre
Offers a 24/7 crisis line where people who have been impacted by sexual violence can access support and referral information.
Telephone: 1 800-726-2743
Northwest Territories
NWT Helpline
Provides support, advice and referral to additional services in your area. Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 1 800-661-0844
Community Councillor
Provides free, in-person counselling services across the territory.
Nova Scotia
Men's Helpline
Crisis line for men experiencing hardship. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 211
Family Service of Eastern Nova Scotia – Men's Health Centre
Provides counselling to individuals, families or couples. Also offers specialized men's services, including:
- parenting supports
- counselling for male victims of violence
- referrals to shelter and additional resources
Telephone: 1 866-330-5952
Telephone: 902-863-2358 (Antigonish office)
Nunavut
Kamatsiaqtut Nunavut Help Line
Crisis line that provides advice and referrals to resources in your area. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 867-979-3333
Telephone: 1 800-265-3333
Ontario
Nova Vita
Services that provide people who have been impacted by family violence in the Brantford area:
- counselling
- parenting support groups
- a crisis line and online chat
- assistance with safety planning and resource navigation
Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 519-752-4357
Text: 519-752-4357
Akwesasne Family Wellness Program
Provides services to members of the Akwesasne community (on or off-reserve) who have been impacted by family and intimate partner violence. Services include:
- a crisis line
- counselling
- outreach staff
- cultural services
- emergency transportation
- support with resource navigation
- emergency shelter for men with or without children
Services are provided in English, Mohawk and French. Crisis line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 1 800-480-4208
Ganohkwasra: Family Assault Support Services
Services for Indigenous people in the Six Nations Reserve area include:
- a crisis line
- counselling
- housing support
- emergency shelter for men with or without children
Crisis line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Preference will be given to members of the Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations.
Telephone: 519-445-4324
Counselling Centre of East Algoma
Family violence counsellors can provide free or low-cost support, case management and resource referrals to people who have been impacted by family or intimate partner violence in the East Algoma area.
Telephone: 705-848-2585
Hospital-based Domestic Violence Treatment and Care Programs
Provides crisis and follow-up care to people who have been impacted by sexual or intimate partner violence. Services include:
- medical care
- resource referrals
- short-term counselling
- evidence documentation
Services may vary between centres.
Hospital-based Domestic Violence Treatment and Care Programs
Prince Edward Island
PEI Family Violence Prevention Services
Emergency call and text line and online chat available through the website. Provides outreach services for anyone experiencing intimate partner violence. Outreach services include:
- support
- referrals
- safety planning
- court and law enforcement advocacy and accompaniment
Emergency call and text lines and online chat service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 1 800-240-9894 (toll-free within PEI)
Telephone: 902-626-5585 (Men's Services Coordinator)
Quebec
SOS violence conjugale
Crisis call, text and online chat available for people who are, or think they may be, experiencing intimate partner violence. Provides bilingual support, advice, and referral to other resources.
Crisis call, text and online chat available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 1-800-363-9010
Text: 438-601-1211
Réseau Maisons Oxygène
Fathers and their children can access emergency housing, support, and referrals to other services. Services and shelters located across the province. Some locations offer services in English, depending on the teams in place.
Telephone: 438-504-4000
Email: reseau@maisonsoxygene.ca
SHASE (Support for Sexually Assaulted Men – Estrie)
Provides individual and group support for men in the Estrie area who have been impacted by sexual assault.
Telephone: 819-933-3555
AideHomme (Centre de ressources pour hommes du sud de Lanaudière)
Provides French-language services, including counselling, resource referrals and support groups to men impacted by family violence.
Telephone:450-961-1241
AideHomme (Centre de ressources pour hommes du sud de Lanaudière) (French only)
Saskatchewan
West Central Crisis and Family Support Centre Inc.
Crisis line and additional services for people experiencing family violence in West central Saskatchewan. Provides advice, referrals, and counselling.
Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 306-463-1860
Envision Counselling and Support Centre
Provides free counselling to people who have been impacted by sexual, intimate partner or family violence at offices across Southeast Saskatchewan.
Partners Family Services
Provides outreach services to people who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing violence in their home in the Humboldt area. Services include:
- emotional support
- danger assessment
- referrals to other supports
Telephone: 306-682-4135
North East Outreach and Support Services
Provides a crisis line and rapid access counselling to anyone who has been impacted by family or intimate partner violence. Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 1 800-611-6349
Family Services Regina
Provides support to people who have been impacted by intimate partner or family violence in the Regina area. Services include:
- counselling
- safety planning
- assistance with resource and justice system navigation
Telephone: 306-757-6675
Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service
Crisis workers can assist people in the Saskatoon area with emotional support, danger assessments and resource referrals. Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 1 306-933-6200
Southwest Crisis Services
Services available to people who have been impacted by family and intimate partner violence include:
- counselling
- resource referrals
- a crisis line, available 24 ours a day, 7 days a week
Telephone: 306-778-3386 (crisis)
Telephone: 306-750-6588 (support counselling)
Yukon
VictimLink
Crisis line for people who are, or think they may be, experiencing family violence. Provides advice and referral to other services in your area. Crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 1 800-563-0808
Mentall Wellness and Substance Use Services
Can provide services to people and families who have been impacted by family violence, including counseling and crisis management.
Telephone: 867-456-3838
Telephone: 1 866-456-3838
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