Ontario's Crisis Helplines for Domestic Violence: Who to Call for Immediate Support
☎️ Ontario's Crisis Helplines for Domestic Violence: Who to Call for Immediate Support
If you are living in fear or experiencing abuse, you are not alone—and you don’t have to wait for a crisis to reach out. Ontario offers free, 24/7 helplines that can help you stay safe, find shelter, or just talk through your options.
Here are the most trusted crisis lines and what each one offers.
📞 1. Assaulted Women’s Helpline (AWHL)
- Phone: 1-866-863-0511
- TTY: 1-866-863-7868
- Text: #SAFE (#7233) on Rogers, Bell, or Telus
- Live Chat: awhl.org
- Languages: 200+ through interpreters
- Available: 24/7 across Ontario
- What they offer:
- Emotional support
- Safety planning
- Shelter referrals
- Information on legal and housing resources
📞 2. Talk4Healing (For Indigenous Women)
- Phone: 1-855-554-HEAL (4325)
- Website: talk4healing.com
- Languages: 14 Indigenous languages, including Ojibway, Cree, and Oji-Cree
- Available: 24/7 for Indigenous women across Ontario
- What they offer:
- Culturally grounded support
- Safety planning
- Connection to elders and healing circles
- Referrals to Indigenous shelters and services
📞 3. Fem’aide (For Francophone Women)
- Phone: 1-877-336-2433
- TTY: 1-866-860-7082
- Website: femaide.ca
- Languages: French and English
- Available: 24/7 in Ontario
- What they offer:
- Crisis support
- Shelter access
- Francophone counselling referrals
- Information on legal and social services
📞 4. 211 Ontario
- Phone: Dial 2-1-1
- Website: 211ontario.ca
- Languages: 150+
- Available: 24/7 across Ontario
- What they offer:
- Referrals to local domestic violence shelters
- Emergency housing and financial assistance
- Mental health and parenting supports
- Legal aid connections
📞 5. Kids Help Phone (For Youth & Teens)
- Phone: 1-800-668-6868
- Text: Text “CONNECT” to 686868
- Website: kidshelpphone.ca
- Available: 24/7 across Canada
- What they offer:
- Support for youth in unsafe homes
- Help navigating abuse, bullying, or fear
- Mental health resources
- Anonymous and non-judgmental listening
🚨 In Immediate Danger?
- Call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate physical danger
- You can ask for police to meet you at a public place or shelter
- If you can’t speak, stay on the line—they will trace the call
- Use the phrase: “I need help with domestic violence” if you're afraid to explain
📌 Summary: Crisis Helplines for DV in Ontario
- ✅ Call 1-866-863-0511 for confidential DV support 24/7
- ✅ Indigenous, Francophone, and youth-specific lines are available
- ✅ No need to prove abuse—just reach out and talk
- ✅ Helplines can help with safety plans, shelter, legal aid, and emotional support
- ✅ You are never alone, and you don’t need to face this in silence