Are You in an Abusive Relationship?
Healthy versus Unhealthy Relationships
Healthy relationships are based on love, trust and respect for each other and shouldn’t be a cause for concern.
Unhealthy relationships typically start with behaviour that is obsessive in nature and can quickly lead to abuse.
Partnering with our Communities to Break the Cycle of Domestic Violence
Signs Of Obsessive Behaviour
Obsessive people tend to exhibit jealousy, anger and controlling behaviour that can lead to threats, verbal and sexual abuse along with physical violence. Abusive behaviour should NEVER be confused with passion or “love,” it is simply wrong.
Getting Out Of An Abusive Relationship
It is vital that you recognize the signs of an abusive relationship to minimize any future harm. Do NOT make excuses for the behaviour or think that you can change it-your partner needs professional help. Remove and/or end the relationship. Your well being depends on it.
What If I Am The Victim Of Domestic Violence
If you are the victim of domestic violence, call 9-1-1. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A CRIME. It is against the law for a person to assault or threaten another person in an intimate relationship. Violence in relationships can lead to serious injury, suicide and homicide.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE includes acts used to maintain power and control over a person by creating fear and isolation. Abuse can take many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial.
VICTIMS ARE ABUSED in all social, religious, racial, cultural, income and educational groups regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, marital or relationship status.
The Toronto Police Service is committed to assisting with the prevention and reduction of domestic violence through intervention and education, and by holding offenders accountable for their actions. The police are required to lay charges when there are reasonable grounds to believe an offence has occurred.
Whether you’re married, living together or just dating, it is important that you know and recognize the signs of an unhealthy relationship as this can lead to trouble.
Useful Contact Numbers
SCARBOROUGH GRACE HOSPITAL
416-495-2555
www.sacc.to
NEW WOMEN’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL
416-323-6040
www.womenscollegehospital.ca
BARBRA SCHLIFER CLINIC
416-323-9149
www.schliferclinic.com
ABRIGO CENTRE
416-534-3434 (Portuguese)
www.abrigo.ca
ARAB COMMUNITY CENTRE
416-231-7746 (Arabic, Armenian, French, Kurdish, Somali, Urdu)
www.arabcommunitycentre.com
CENTRE FOR SPANISH SPEAKING PEOPLES
416-533-8545
www.cssp-cghh.org
COSTI
416-244-7714 (Italian)
www.costi.org
FAMILY SERVICE TORONTO
416-595-9230
www.familyservicetoronto.org
JEWISH FAMILY & CHILD SERVICE
416-638-7800 (French, Hebrew, Russian, Yiddish)
www.jfandcs.com
KOREAN CANADIAN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
416-340-1234
www.kcwa.net
NATIVE CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES
416-969-8510 (Ojibway, other native interpretation)
www.nativechild.org
OASIS CENTRE DES FEMMES
416-591-6565 (French)
www.oasisfemmes.com
POLYCULTURAL IMMIGRANT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
416-533-9471 (Polish, Russian, Ukrainian)
www.polycultural.org
SOUTH ASIAN FAMILY SUPPORT
416-431-4847 (Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Pashto, Punjabi, Tamil, Urdu. Chinese, French, Spanish)
www.safss.com
SOUTH EAST ASIAN SERVICES
416-362-1375 (Cantonese, Mandarin, Filipino)
www.seascentre.org
TAMIL EELAM SOCIETY OF CANADA
416-757-6043 (Tamil, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Sinhala, Turkish)
www.tesoc.org
TROPICANA COMMUNITY SERVICES
416-439-9009 (African & Caribbean Communities)
www.tropicanacommunity.org
VIETNAMESE WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF TORONTO
416-539-0152
www.vwat.org
VICTIM / WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CONTACT NUMBERS
Old City Hall
416-327-5959
College Park Court
416-325-6117
Metro North Court
416-314-0009
Metro West Court
416-314-3944
Metro East Court
416-325-1452
Youth & Family Court (311 Jarvis St.)
416-212-1452
To report a crime anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at: 1-800-222-8477(TIPS) or online at: www.222tips.com
In An Emergency: Call 9-1-1.
To report a crime to the Toronto Police that is not an emergency call 416-808-2222.
COMMUNITY SERVICES INFORMATION TORONTO
2-1-1
VICTIM SERVICES TORONTO
416-808-7066
www.victimservicestoronto.com
SHELTERSAFE
www.sheltersafe.ca
LEGAL AID ONTARIO
416-979-1446
www.legalaid.on.ca
ASSAULTED WOMEN’S HELPLINE
416-863-0511
www.awhl.org
TORONTO RAPE CRISIS CENTRE
416-597-8808
www.trccmwar.ca
THE 519 ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAM
416-392-6874
www.the519.org
Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual / Transgender Communities
KIDS HELP PHONE
1-800-668-6868
www.kidshelp.sympatico.ca
To report a crime anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at: 1-800-222-8477(TIPS), online at 222tips.com or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637)
In an emergency, call 9-1-1
To report a crime to the Toronto Police that is not an emergency, call 416-808-2222