Help and resources for sexual assault victims and sexual assailants in Quebec

Quebec’s resource page for sexual assault victims and sexual assailants is a public-facing support directory that points people toward help, crisis services, and guidance. For survivors, this kind of page can be an important first step when you are trying to find immediate support, understand your options, or connect with services without having to explain everything from the beginning.

If you are reading this while feeling scared, overwhelmed, numb, or unsure what to do next: you do not have to make every decision right now. You can take one small step at a time.

What happened

The Quebec government has a page that gathers information and resources for people affected by sexual assault, including victims and people who have caused harm and may need intervention. The page appears to be a centralized entry point rather than a single emergency service.

Because the publication date is unknown, it is best understood as a current resource listing rather than a news alert about a specific incident.

Why this matters

Resource pages like this matter because sexual violence often leaves people unsure where to turn. Survivors may be dealing with fear, shame, confusion, physical injuries, pregnancy concerns, STI concerns, trauma symptoms, or worries about reporting.

A clear government resource can help by:

• making support easier to find
• reducing the burden of searching while distressed
• connecting people to crisis, medical, legal, and counseling services
• reminding survivors that help exists even if they are not ready to report

It also matters that the page includes resources for sexual assailants. Accountability and intervention services can be part of preventing further harm, but survivors should never be pressured to contact or engage with the person who harmed them.

Who may be impacted

This resource may be relevant to:

• survivors of sexual assault or sexual abuse
• people who are unsure whether what happened was assault
• family members, friends, and partners trying to help
• people seeking medical care after an assault
• people considering reporting to police or another authority
• people who caused harm and are looking for intervention or treatment resources

If you are supporting someone else, your role is not to investigate or decide for them. Your job is to listen, believe, and help them access options safely.

Practical steps if you need help now

If you are in immediate danger

• Call emergency services in your area right away.
• If you can, move to a safer place with other people nearby.
• If speaking is not safe, use text or online emergency options if available in your area.

If the assault happened recently

You may still have options for medical care, evidence collection, and support.

Consider:

• going to an emergency department or sexual assault care service
• asking for a sexual assault nurse examiner or trained clinician if available
• avoiding bathing, changing clothes, brushing teeth, or cleaning the area if you want the option of evidence collection
• placing clothing or bedding in a paper bag if you need to preserve evidence

If you already showered, changed, or cleaned up, you can still seek care. It is still worth getting medical and emotional support.

If you are not ready to report

That is okay. You can still:

• get medical care
• ask about STI prevention, emergency contraception, and injury treatment
• speak with a counselor or crisis line
• document what you remember in a private note
• ask a trusted person to stay with you

You do not have to decide about police involvement before getting support.

If you are worried about privacy or retaliation

• Use a phone, email, or device the abusive person cannot access.
• Clear browser history if needed, or use private browsing.
• Ask a trusted friend, advocate, or service provider about safe ways to contact them.
• If you live with the person who harmed you, plan around times they are away if possible.

Where to seek help

Because service availability can change, use the Quebec resource page as a starting point and look for:

• sexual assault crisis lines
• victim support services
• hospital or clinic-based sexual assault care
• counseling and trauma therapy
• legal information and victim assistance programs
• community organizations serving women, youth, LGBTQ+ people, Indigenous people, and newcomers

If you are in Quebec, you can also ask local hospitals, shelters, or community organizations to help you find the nearest service.

If you are outside Quebec, look for your local sexual assault center, rape crisis center, or victim services office.

Safety reminders

• You are not to blame for being assaulted.
• You do not need to prove your pain to deserve help.
• You can ask for support without reporting.
• You can bring a support person to appointments if that feels safer.
• If a service feels dismissive or unsafe, you are allowed to leave and try another one.

If contacting a service feels hard, you can use a simple script:

“I need help after a sexual assault. I am not sure what I need yet, but I want to know my options.”

If you are supporting a survivor

You can help by:

• believing them
• asking what they need instead of telling them what to do
• offering practical help like transportation, food, childcare, or sitting with them
• avoiding pressure to report, forgive, or confront the person who harmed them
• respecting their choices, even if they change over time

Helpful phrases:

• “I’m glad you told me.”
• “What would feel safest right now?”
• “You do not have to handle this alone.”

If you are looking for help because you harmed someone

Seeking help is not the same as taking responsibility, but it can be a first step toward preventing more harm. Look for intervention programs, counseling, and accountability-based services that do not place the burden on survivors.

Do not contact the person you harmed unless a qualified professional specifically advises a safe, appropriate process. If you are in crisis or worried you may hurt someone again, seek urgent professional help immediately.

Uncertainties and limits

This update appears to be a general resource page, not a detailed announcement about a new law, emergency program, or specific case. Because the publication date is unknown, the exact timing of any changes to services is unclear.

Service names, phone numbers, and eligibility rules can change. Always confirm details directly with the listed organization or through local emergency services.

Bottom line

This Quebec resource page matters because it can help survivors and others affected by sexual violence find support faster. If you need help, you deserve care, options, and respect right now — even if you are not ready to report or explain everything.