Get Help
Attention
Are You in Danger Now?
If You Are Being Abused and are Planning to Leave
Signs That You Are in an Abusive Relationship
If you are being abused and you question your safety or the safety of your children, you need to get help now. Our counsellors are available right now – 24/7.
Call or text our toll-free and confidential crisis and support line 1-800-263-3247.
Are You in Danger Right Now?
Call 911
If you cannot speak, and are calling from a landline, just dial 911 and leave the phone connected.
Crisis/emergency number
If there is no 911 number in your area, check your phone book for the crisis/emergency number.
Do You Need to Get Away?
Call or text Yellow Brick House at 1-800-263-3247.
You can speak confidentially and get advice on your next steps.
If You Are Being Abused and are Planning to Leave
Don’t tell your partner you’re thinking of leaving.
Take your children with you.
Plan your emergency exits.
Keep emergency phone numbers with you at all times.
Set aside money for a taxi, and quarters or pre-paid phone cards for payphones.
Take valuable documents with you such as passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, immigration papers, OHIP card, SIN card, bank books and bank cards.
Make photocopies of all of your important documents and leave them with a person you trust.
Bring documents that prove you have been living at the same address with your partner.
Take all prescriptions and medicines – both yours and your children’s.
Open a bank account in your name or in the name of a person you trust. Make sure that bank statements are not mailed to your home.
Save as much cash as you can.
Hide extra clothing, house keys, car keys, money etc., at a friend’s house.
If you have a pet whose welfare you’re concerned about, take it to a friend’s house or animal rescue charity in your area, such as Ontario SPCA or Safe Pet Ontario. Many of these agencies have a network of ‘foster’ parents to provide temporary homes until more longer-term arrangements can be made.
Ensure any phone locating services on your cell phone are turned off.
Have an emergency suitcase packed if possible.
Include some special toys and comforts for your children.
Signs that You Are in An Abusive Relationship
Keep a checklist, if your partner exhibits behaviours like the ones listed below may be at risk of abuse:
Speaks badly about other people in your life and tells you not to associate with them anymore.
Constantly tells you all the things that are “wrong” with you.
Always demands your time and attention.
Blows up and directs anger towards you when being asked to talk about the relationship.
Disapproves of how you spend your money or how you dress.
Doesn’t understand the difference between affection and sex.
Accuses you of lying.
Demands to know where you are at all times.
Constantly becomes jealous or angry when you want to spend time with your friends or family.
Finds it hard to apologize or take responsibility when they’ve done something wrong.
Won’t take no for an answer.
Threatens to harm you or themselves if you leave the relationship; they may threaten suicide.
Twists the truth to make you feel you are to blame for their actions.
Calls you offensive or derogatory names.
Humiliates or embarrasses you in front of other people.
Threatens you with physical violence, abandonment, or harm to others you love.
Threatens to harm themselves if you don’t comply with their wishes.
Expresses excessive jealousy about your friends and family.
Expresses excessive jealousy over friends of the opposite sex.
Isolates you from friends, family, or your local community.
Tries to control what you wear, eat, say, spend time with, spend money on, etc.
Blames you for their actions or mistakes.
Threatens to infect you with an illness, such as a sexually transmitted disease.
Withholds medication, or threatens to withhold medication.
Pressures you into having sexual contact you do not want.
Becomes violent or controlling when she or he is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Steals money from you, or does not allow you access to your own money.
Attempts to forbid you from working or making money.
There is a lot of information on this page on ways
you can get help including:
If you are being abused, or think you may be, do not hesitate to call and speak with one of our staff. A trained counsellor is available 24 hours, every day of the week.
Our crisis line is toll-free and confidential. 1-800-263-3247.