Helplines in Alberta, Canada.

Hotlines are available in Alberta, Canada for the victims of sexual abuse, assault and harassment. It's free and confidential.

Sexual abuse is a form sexual violence where a person uses power or coercion to force you into unwanted sexual activity. You can be a victim of sexual abuse if you are a woman, man or child. Other forms of sexual violence are sexual assault, such as rape, and sexual harassment, which is sexual behaviour toward you that is unwelcome or offensive.

There are many people throughout the world who struggle to overcome the aftermath of sexual violence. If you are one of them, getting the right kind of help can make all the difference. In Alberta, Canada there are 11 hotlines you can contact for support with sexual abuse, assault or harassment. Reach out if you have experienced any of the following:

Examples of sexual violence:

• Repeated unwanted sexual attention or advances, including in your workplace or by your employer
• An organ or an object being put into your vagina (rape), or anus or mouth (sodomy), without your consent
• Being forced or coerced to have sex without protection from sexually transmitted diseases
• Being filmed or photographed nude or in a sexually explicit way without your permission
• Being exposed to a violent, hurtful sexual act without your permission
• Sexual photos or videos being posted online without your consent
• Rape by more than one person (gang rape) or rape by the same person over a period of time (serial rape)
• Being kissed or touched without your consent or being made, by coercion or force, to touch or kiss someone

Effects of sexual violence:

• A decline in your physical and mental health
• Losing trust in people in general
• Feeling unsafe and scared that it would happen again
• Minimizing the abuse as not being as severe as someone else’s
• Feeling edgy and fearful, especially around people who resemble the abuser in any way
• An urge to use alcohol, drugs, or gamble excessively
• Feeling as if everyone could see what happened to you
• Avoidance of anything that reminds you of the sexual abuse

As a victim of sexual violence you could be feeling furious, desperate, revengeful, hopeless, and empty, all at the same time. This is a perfectly normal response to such a traumatizing event.

When you’re on your path to surviving sexual violence and its aftermath, it helps to know that there are people who can relate. People in Alberta, Canada who went through similar experiences could make your recovery easier and quicker.

If you are ready to talk to someone about your experience of sexual abuse, assault or harassment, you can contact a hotline in Alberta, Canada for free and confidential support.