The Government of New Brunswick’s “Love Shouldn’t Hurt: End Intimate Partner Violence” page is a public-facing resource that brings together information about intimate partner violence (IPV), warning signs, and ways to get help. For someone who may be scared, isolated, or unsure whether what they are experiencing “counts,” this kind of resource can matter a lot: it can help name abuse, reduce shame, and point toward support options.

This is not a breaking-news emergency alert, but a resource update from a provincial public safety department. The page is designed to educate the public about intimate partner violence and connect people to support. Because the published date is unknown, it is best understood as an ongoing help resource rather than a time-sensitive announcement.

Intimate partner violence can be hard to recognize, especially when it includes emotional abuse, coercive control, threats, financial control, stalking, or technology-facilitated abuse. Many people do not seek help right away because they are:

• afraid of retaliation
• worried about children, pets, housing, money, or immigration status
• unsure whether the behavior is “serious enough”
• feeling ashamed, confused, or emotionally attached to the person harming them
• trying to stay safe while planning quietly

A clear government resource can help by:

• validating that abuse is real even when there are no visible injuries
• making it easier to identify patterns of control
• offering a starting point for safety planning and support
• reminding survivors that help exists even if they are not ready to leave

This resource may be especially useful for:

• people experiencing abuse from a current or former partner
• people who are being monitored, threatened, isolated, or controlled
• teens and young adults in dating relationships
• people supporting a friend, family member, neighbor, or coworker
• people who are unsure whether what they are experiencing is abuse

It may also be relevant for people who have already left a relationship but are still dealing with stalking, harassment, custody conflict, financial abuse, or digital surveillance.

If you are in immediate danger, call emergency services now. If speaking out loud is not safe, try to move to a safer place first if you can.

You do not need to prove abuse to deserve support. If you feel afraid, controlled, watched, or worn down, that matters.

If the abusive person monitors your phone, email, or browser history:

• use a trusted friend’s device, a library computer, or a safer phone if available
• clear browsing history if that is safe to do
• avoid saving passwords on shared devices
• consider using private browsing only if it does not increase your risk

A domestic violence advocate, shelter, crisis line, or community support worker can help you think through options without forcing you to leave right away. You can ask about:

• safety planning
• emergency shelter
• legal protection and restraining options
• housing support
• financial assistance
• child safety and custody concerns
• pet safety
• technology safety

A safety plan does not have to be perfect. It can be as simple as:

• identifying one safe person you can contact
• packing copies of important documents if it is safe to do so
• keeping keys, medication, and essentials in a place you can access quickly
• choosing a code word with a trusted person
• planning where you could go in an emergency

If safe, keep records of threats, injuries, stalking, financial control, or harassment. This may help later with legal or support services. If documenting would put you at risk, do not do it.

Abusive partners often use technology to track or intimidate. Consider whether your accounts, devices, location sharing, smart home devices, or social media may be exposed. A support worker or tech safety resource can help you review this safely.

Because support options vary by location, the most helpful next step is to contact local domestic violence services, a shelter, or a crisis line in your area. If you are in New Brunswick, the provincial resource page can be a starting point for finding current services and information.

You may also be able to get help from:

• local women’s shelters or transition houses
• sexual assault support centers
• victim services
• family law or legal aid services
• child protection or family support services, if children are involved
• healthcare providers who can document injuries and connect you to support

If you are outside New Brunswick, look for:

• domestic violence hotlines
• local shelters and advocacy organizations
• emergency services if you are in immediate danger
• trusted community organizations that support survivors

• You do not have to decide everything today.
• Leaving can be the most dangerous time, so planning matters.
• If the person harming you monitors your communications, be careful about who can see your messages.
• If children are involved, a support worker can help you think through safer options.
• If you are not ready to leave, you still deserve support.
• If you have already left, ongoing stalking or harassment is still abuse.

This resource page is helpful, but the public description does not include every detail about what services are available, how quickly they respond, or whether the page has been recently updated. Because the published date is unknown, it is wise to verify phone numbers, eligibility, and local service availability before relying on any single source.

If you are reading this while feeling scared, exhausted, or unsure, you are not alone. Abuse can make it hard to think clearly, and that is not your fault. You deserve support that is calm, respectful, and centered on your safety.

If you can, take one small step: save a trusted contact, reach out to a local advocate, or open the provincial resource page when it is safe to do so.