For crisis intervention or mental distress: Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line:
1-888-429-8167

For Confidential support to post-secondary students in Nova Scotia:
Good2Talk: 1-833-292-3698
or text GOOD2TALKNS to 686868

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program for the Halifax area:
902-425-0122

Get toll-free numbers for other Nova Scotia regions

 

EMERGENCY CONTACT
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Get Help Now

Caucasian Female

A trauma-informed lens, for sure

Participant 1: You would have to listen, and from my personal experience, I've always found support in my peers. So, talking to someone who has either experienced sexual assault or somebody trained in it and who is trauma-informed.[...]
Participant 2: For professionals, a trauma-informed lens [is needed] for sure. I also think being non-judgmental is essential. And again, I'm huge on this, but just allowing the person to tell you their experiences and for you not to bombard them with "well you need to do this," "you need to do that"- just hear them and recognize that people have their own way of dealing with things.

Recommendations

  • Sign on with a service such as KeepMe.Safe, which connects students with mental health professionals from cultures around the world and promote this service as part of university SV/SA service provision.

  • Use an app or other tool that allows students to anonymously ask questions about sexual violence and university policies against sexual violence.

  • Present learning materials in a way that is helpful to a friend supporting a victim/survivor.