Who are we and what do we do?

For more than 25 years, the Assaulted Women’s Helpline has served as a free, anonymous and confidential 24-hour telephone and TTY crisis telephone line to all women in the province of Ontario who have experienced any form of abuse. 

We provide crisis counselling, safety planning, emotional support, information and referrals accessible 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  We work in tandem with community partners and sister agencies towards bridging gaps in service and identifying emerging issues or trends relevant to the women we work with.

The Need

Violence against women is a serious and widespread issue in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, more than 50% of Canadian women over the age of 16 have been victims of violence. 

In Ontario, almost every week a woman dies at the hands of her partner, and over $4 billion is spent each year on physical and sexual abuse in Canada. For some women, the Helpline serves as a critical alternative for those reluctant to call 911 or are fearful to report their abuse.

The Assaulted Women’s Helpline has responded to over 728,000 calls in the past 26 years, including 49,000 calls in our past fiscal year alone.

If you are living with abuse, we can help you 1-866-863-0511