Module 4a | Finding Help and Support
(Student version)
Module 4a provides students with information on how to support a survivor of sexual violence. In the section called “Finding Help and Support,” you will need to include information about available resources and services on-campus and in the community to support survivors of sexual violence.
Support and services vary enormously between communities. The list below provides examples of resources and supports that can be included. It is good practice to include both on-campus and community-based organizations, 24/7 supports as well as supports specific to various communities (e.g., LGBTQ2SIA+ people, multicultural groups). For information about community based anti-violence organizations, VictimLink B.C. (1-800-563-0808) is a good starting place as they will be able to connect you with organizations in your community. In the course, information is organized into three sections (Campus Support Services, 24 Hour Contacts, and Community Support Services), but you are welcome to organize information in a different way, e.g., online services vs. in-person services, services available on different campuses or in different communities where your institution operates or is located.
Examples of resources and supports related to sexual violence:
- Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office/Key Contacts
- Police/RCMP
- Campus security
- On-campus health services/clinics or other clinics such as Options that offer services on campus
- Local hospital
- Forensic nurse examiner program (often co-located in hospital emergency departments or collaborates in the community with sexual assault services)
- Student support services
- Student union services
- Women’s Centre
- Indigenous support services
- Counselling Services/Wellness Programs
- Here2Talk (free 24/7 mental health support for B.C. post-secondary students)
- Crisis lines
- Multicultural organizations
- International Student organization/program contacts
- LGBTQ2IA+ services, on- and off-campus
- Accessibility supports, on- and off-campus
- Sexual health resources
- Multifaith services
- Anti-violence organizations in the community
Locating Community-Based Anti-Violence Programs and Services
- VictimLink BC (1-800-563-0808) is a toll-free, BC-wide telephone help line, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It provides services in over 130 languages. It can be an important resource to include in learning materials. As well, the service can provide support in identifying programs and services in your community related to preventing and responding to sexual violence. They can help you identify crisis services (available in the evenings and on weekends) and learn about the referral criteria for specific groups and populations. For example, you will want to make sure that resource lists indicate whether a program is trans-inclusive or whether a multicultural program provides services for non-immigrants.
- The Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA-BC) website provides information about Community-Based Victim Services, Stopping the Violence Counselling and Stopping the Violence/Multicultural Outreach Programs in BC.
Examples of resource lists from other B.C. post-secondary institutions: