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.

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African Female

They actually have facilities here to help you

[If someone from our region experiences sexual assault], try to listen to them. I think it’s very important to listen to the situation and not just judge it, you know, as it is. Listen to them. Be understanding. You know, we all don’t [...] speak the same way. So, you know, just try to listen to them. But if - if there is a language barrier, try to bring in [...] translators or something, just to make it a safe environment for that person. Try to make it as safe as it can be. [...] Give them support. Just - just giving them support, assurance, and telling them that they actually have the facilities here to help you [...] and not feel that you’re alone just because you’re in Canada and you're - you’re away from home [...] but that, actually, you know, we have great facilities that can actually help you. So, I guess, that’s what I would say. Yeah.

Recommendations

  • Create an inter-university and college roster of peer supporters and educators that includes international and domestic student leaders across genders.

  • 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 approaches that are trauma informed and survivor-centred.

  • Provide long-term support to victims/survivors through university services and/or through referals to external community-based agencies.

  • Offer interpretation services to victims/survivors and respondents who are more comfortable communicating in a language other than English and make it known to students that this service is available.