Family Violence and Your Health: A Trauma-Informed Guide to Getting Support, Staying Safe, and Finding Help in Canada

The Public Health Agency of Canada’s “Family violence and your health” resource is a reminder that family violence is not only a safety issue — it is also a health issue. It can affect physical health, mental health, sleep, stress levels, chronic pain, pregnancy, children’s wellbeing, and long-term recovery.

For people who are being hurt, controlled, threatened, or frightened by a partner, family member, or someone in the home, this kind of public health guidance can matter because it helps confirm something important: what you are experiencing is real, serious, and deserving of support.

When violence happens in a relationship or family, people often blame themselves, minimize the harm, or worry that no one will believe them. A health-focused resource can help shift the conversation from “What is wrong with you?” to “What has happened to you, and what support do you need?”

This matters because family violence can:

• cause injuries, pain, and ongoing medical problems
• increase anxiety, depression, panic, and trauma symptoms
• affect eating, sleeping, concentration, and memory
• make it harder to work, study, parent, or make decisions
• create fear around pregnancy, separation, finances, immigration, or child custody
• affect children even when they are not directly hit or threatened

If you are reading this while feeling overwhelmed, please know: you do not need to prove that your situation is “bad enough” to deserve help.

Family violence can affect many people, including:

• adults experiencing abuse from a spouse or partner
• children and teens living with violence at home
• older adults facing abuse, neglect, or coercion from family members or caregivers
• people with disabilities who depend on others for support
• newcomers, refugees, and people with uncertain immigration status
• 2SLGBTQ+ people facing abuse, outing threats, or control
• people who are isolated, financially dependent, or afraid of losing housing or custody

Abuse can include physical violence, sexual violence, emotional abuse, threats, stalking, financial control, coercion, isolation, and technology-facilitated abuse.

A health resource like this can help survivors and helpers understand that violence may show up in the body and mind long before someone is ready to name it as abuse. You might notice:

• headaches, stomach pain, or unexplained injuries
• trouble sleeping or nightmares
• feeling jumpy, numb, ashamed, or on edge
• panic, sadness, hopelessness, or memory gaps
• avoiding certain topics, people, or places
• frequent appointments, missed work, or difficulty concentrating

If any of this sounds familiar, it does not mean you are weak. It may mean your body is responding to stress and danger.

You do not have to do everything at once. Small steps are enough.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency number.

If calling is not safe, consider whether you can:

• move to a room with an exit
• keep your phone charged and with you
• use a code word with someone you trust
• go to a neighbor, store, library, or public place
• avoid rooms with weapons or hard surfaces if conflict is escalating

Choose someone who is likely to respond calmly. You can say:

• “I need support and I’m not safe.”
• “Can I stay with you or call you back from a safer place?”
• “Please don’t contact them or share this with anyone.”

If speaking feels hard, send a short text.

A local shelter, crisis line, or advocacy service can help with safety planning, emotional support, housing, legal information, and referrals.

If you are in Canada, you can also use:

• 211 to find local social, housing, and crisis services in many areas
• your province or territory’s domestic violence hotline or shelter network
• a hospital, walk-in clinic, or sexual assault centre if you need medical care or documentation

You can seek care even if you do not want to report to police. A clinician can help with injuries, stress symptoms, sleep problems, and documentation if you choose.

If possible, tell the provider:

• what happened
• when it happened
• any pain, bruising, head injury, strangulation, or sexual assault concerns
• whether you feel safe going home

A safety plan can be very small and still useful. It may include:

• important phone numbers
• a packed bag with keys, ID, medications, and essentials
• copies of documents or photos stored safely
• a plan for children, pets, or transportation
• a code word for danger
• a safer device or email account if technology is monitored

If you think your phone, email, or location may be monitored, use a safer device if possible and clear your browser history only if doing so will not increase risk.

If someone tells you they are experiencing family violence, your response can make a big difference.

Helpful responses:

• “I’m glad you told me.”
• “I believe you.”
• “This is not your fault.”
• “What would feel safest right now?”
• “I can help you find support.”

Try to avoid:

• pressuring them to leave immediately
• criticizing their choices
• contacting the abusive person
• asking for details they are not ready to share
• making promises you cannot keep

Leaving can be the most dangerous time for some people, so support should be centered on their pace and safety.

• If you are in immediate danger, call emergency services.
• If a child is at risk, contact local child protection or emergency services as required in your area.
• If strangulation occurred, seek urgent medical care even if there are no visible injuries.
• If you are pregnant and have been hit, threatened, or strangled, get medical help promptly.
• If you are planning to leave, think about timing, transportation, money, documents, medications, and where you can go safely.

The source page is a public health resource, not a crisis service, and the published date is not clearly listed in the information provided here. That means it should be treated as a general educational and awareness resource rather than a complete safety plan or substitute for local, personalized support.

Also, public health guidance can help people understand the health effects of family violence, but it may not include every local service, legal option, or emergency procedure. For the most current help, contact local shelters, crisis lines, healthcare providers, or emergency services in your area.

If you are living with family violence, you may be exhausted, confused, scared, or unsure what to do next. You do not have to solve everything today. The most important step is often the smallest safe one: telling one trusted person, contacting one service, or getting through the next few hours safely.

You deserve care, respect, and safety.