Domestic Violence

On any given day in Canada, more than 3,300 women (along with their 3,000 children) sleep in an emergency shelter to escape domestic violence (Statistics Canada 2011).

What is domestic violence and woman abuse?

• It is the use of psychological, physical or sexual force in an intimate relationship.
• The intimate relationship can include a current or past partner, or a family member.
• It can be actually happening or is being threatened by the abuser.
• It is a pattern of controlling behaviours that may include physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and financial abuse.
• It happens across all cultures, religions, ages, sexual orientations, educational backgrounds and income levels.
• It can be deadly and anyone close to the family involved may be at risk.
• Typically abuse escalates in frequency or severity, especially if the abuser uses physical violence.

Get help now

If you need emergency help, call 911 or London City Police 519-661-5670.

Anova

• 24-hour crisis and support line: 519-642-3000 or 1-800-265-1576

• Anova has two 24-hour emergency shelters in the city of London. To get help accessing these shelters call 519-642-3000:
• 101 Wellington Road, London, Ontario
• 450 Clarke Road, London, Ontario

Women’s Rural Resource Centre

• 24/7 helpline: 1-800-265-5390
• 145 Beech Street, Strathroy, Ontario N7G 1K9
• Tel: 519-246-1526

Zhaawanong Women’s Shelter

• Crisis line: 1-800-605-7477.
• Zhaawanong provides emergency shelter and support for Indigenous women and their children who are at risk of violence, abuse and/or homelessness.

St. Joseph’s Health Care London

• Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centre
• 24-hour service and emergency forensic assessments
• 519-646-6100, extension 64224

Safety Planning

1. Call for help

• If you need emergency help, call 911.
• For crisis counselling, call the Abused Women’s Helpline: 519-642-3000.

2. Tell someone

• Tell someone you trust about the abuse
• Tell your friends and family about your plans

3. Create a safety plan for leaving the abuser

• To learn how to safely leave an abusive partner, please visit www.neighboursfriendsandfamilies.ca.

Signs of an abusive relationship

Power and Control Wheel (PDF)

• The Power and Control Wheel shows how power and control is the main cause of abusive behaviors.
• The Power and Control Wheel can be used in many types of relationships heterosexual, gay and lesbian.

Signs of a Healthy Relationship

Equality Wheel (PDF)

• The Equality Wheel shows the correct ways to interact in a healthy relationship.

Community Resources

Women abuse:

• Anova
  24-Hour Helpline:
  519-642-3000
  Toll free: 1-800-265-1576
• London Abused Women’s Centre
  Counselling, advocacy, safety planning
  519-432-2204
• Women’s Rural Resource Centre
  145 Beech Street, Strathroy, Ontario N7G 1K9
  Tel: 519-246-1526
  Crisis: 1-800-265-5390

Sexual assault:

• Anova
  24-Hour Helpline:
  519-642-3000
  Toll free: 1-800-265-1576
  http://www.anovafuture.org
• St. Joseph’s Health Care London
  Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centre
  24 hour service and emergency forensic assessments
  519-646-6100, extension 64224
  sjhc.london.on.ca/sexualassault

First Nations:

• AT^LOHSA Native Family Healing Services Inc.
  24 hour crisis line 1-800-605-7477
  atlohsa.com

Francophone services:

• Fem’aide
  24 hour helpline for francophone women
  1-877-FEMAIDE (336-2433)
  femaide.ca
• Carrefour des femmes du Sud-Ouest de l’Ontario (CFSOO)
  Crisis support line, counselling, advocacy, education for francophone women
  519-858-0954
  Toll free: 1-888-858-0954
  carrefourfemmes.on.ca

Child abuse:

• Children’s Aid Society of London & Middlesex
  Child protection services for children at risk
  519-455-9000
  After hours emergencies: 519-858-5998
  Toll free: 1-888-661-6167
  caslondon.on.ca

Supports for men:

• Changing Ways London
  Group programs for men who abuse women
  519-438-9869
  changingways.on.ca
• Anova
  24-Hour Helpline:
  519-642-3000
  Toll free: 1-800-265-1576
  http://www.anovafuture.org

Elder abuse:

• Seniors helpline
  24 hour helpline: 519-667-6600
  londondistresscentre.com
• Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
  24 hour Senior Safety line: 1-866-299-1011
  Elderabuseontario.com

Educational resources:

• London Coordinating Committee to End Woman Abuse
  Links to supports and resources
  lccewa.ca
• Neighbours, Friends and Families
  Information on helping someone who is being abused
  519-661-2111, extension 87486
  neighboursfriendsandfamilies.ca
• Make it Our Business
  Information on domestic violence in the workplace
  makeitourbusiness.com