Ongoing Resources
and Support

There are many supports available for survivors of sexual violence. On this page, you will find short- and long-term help and resources.

Where to start

  • Emergency: Dial 911 (toll free) 24/7 

An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police, fire department or ambulance. 

  • Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Program (S.A.N.E): 1-877-880-7263 (toll free) 24/7  

If you have recently been sexually assaulted, it is important to have your medical needs addressed.  Even if there are no obvious signs of injury, contact the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) 24/7 1-877-880-7263 immediately and within 7 days after a sexual assault, to preserve physical evidence, treat any physical injuries and test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy. A support person is welcome to accompany you.  Learn more

  • Good 2 Talk Call 1-833-292-3698 or Text GOOD2TALK to 686868   

24/7 services are available to post-secondary students in Nova Scotia. Free, confidential support from a professional counsellor on a range of mental health and well-being topics. Learn more

  • Mental Health and Mobile Crisis Intervention Service: 902-429-8167 or 1-888-429-8167 (toll free) This service offers telephone crisis support 24 hrs a day 7 days a week anywhere in Nova Scotia and a Mobile Response from 1 pm to 1 am to most communities in Halifax Regional Municipality. MHMCT is a co-response model with police. It provides crisis intervention for children, youth and adults experiencing a mental health crisis or mental distress. 

NSCAD on-campus help

  • NSCAD Fountain Campus Security Cell (24 Hours) 902-877-0764 
  • The Director of Opportunity & Belonging is here to help you and your point of contact for disclosing sexual violence. Their role is to listen, support and help you make informed decisions on next steps, if and when you are ready.  They can connect you to services and resources, explain disclosure and reporting options and support you as you decide your next steps. The Director of Opportunity & Belonging meets with students virtually, in person, on the phone, or through email to provide information, connection and support.  When working with the Director of Opportunity & Belonging you can expect compassionate, respectful, understanding, and non-judgemental responses.   

 The Director of Opportunity & Belonging can help with: 

    • Understanding your options 
    • Safety planning 
    • Immediate measures/accommodations 
    • Information about and referrals to support services available on and off campus 
    • Academic support/accommodation  
    • Ongoing support & advocacy 
    • Reporting on and off campus
    • NSCAD’s Registered Counselling Therapist and Counselling Interns  
  • Contact tbhandal@nscad.ca or book an appointment online.
  • NSCAD’s Mental Health & Wellness provides on-campus counselling and you can book an appointment with our Counsellor. 
  • Students can also seek support off-campus. NSCAD’s Greenshield health plan provides $1000 coverage for Registered Counselling Therapists, Registered Social Workers, and Registered Psychologists. Students on the Greenshield health plan can also access 5 sessions for free through Inkblot Therapy. International students on the Student VIP health plan have access to $10,000 coverage for psychologists and $500 for Social Workers. Students on this plan can also use the I.M. Well app which provides 24/7 access to counsellors in over 240 languages. NSCAD’s counsellors can help provide appropriate referral information if needed.  

Sexual Assault Centres

Avalon Sexual Assault Centre: 902-422-4240  

Specialized therapeutic counselling available to women and trans/gender non-identified individuals 16 years and older who have experienced a recent or historical sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, and/or sexual harassment, individual counselling, support and therapy groups, court support, advocacy/support/referrals, confidential, non-judgmental, and free of charge services. 

www.avaloncentre.ca 

Email: info@avaloncentre.ca 

Counselling

  • Alsusuti Aboriginal Crisis & Counselling Services  

Office Phone: 1-844-694-1382 

https://alsusuti.com/ 

Indigenous counsellors are available to First Nations and Indigenous people both in Nova Scotia and across Canada (when requested) for the provision of culturally appropriate mental health counselling services 

 

  • Man Talk (For male victims of sexual assault/abuse: (1-902-832-1593) 

ManTalk 2.0 is a professionally led support group for male-identified victims of sexual violence who are 19 years of age of older. Services are available through video conferencing platform.  

Inside Out: A Men’s Wellness Group A professionally led support group for men to heal from the harm they have suffered and the harm they have caused. Helping men heal from trauma, neglect, abandonment & other forms of abuse. Poverty, racism, homophobia & other forms of marginalization. These programs are for male identified people who are 19 years of age older. 

 http://thepeoplescounsellingclinic.ca/rackcards 

Email: thepeoplescounsellingclinic@gmail.com  

  • New Start Counselling, Dartmouth, NS, 902-423-4675 

New Start Counselling is a place where change begins for men affected by domestic violence. We help men move away from abuse and violence toward the respectful relationships they prefer. We do this by providing a safe and healing counselling environment. 

https://www.newstartcounselling.ca/ 

Crisis helplines

  • Eskasoni Mental Health Services/Crisis and Referral Center 

Eskasoni Crisis Line: 1-855-379-2099 (toll-free)​https://www.eskasonimentalhealth.org/  

The Eskasoni Crisis Line is available toll free 24/7 to Mi’kmaq across Nova Scotia.  They also provide online support through the Eskasoni Crisis Worker Facebook account.  

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre 24/7 Crisis Helpline: by both male and female volunteers who are trained in crisis intervention. Anyone can call our line, any day, any time, call toll free at 1 (800) 726-2743 

 

Resources centres

  • East Preston Family Resource Center: (902)-818-4504 

African Nova Scotian Sexual Violence Community Engagement Coordinator  

https://www.eastprestondaycare.ca/sexual-violence-prevention/ 

  • Mi’kmaw Friendship Centre Halifax: 902-420-1576  

The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre is a focal point for the Urban Aboriginal community to gather for a variety of community functions, events and to provide social based programming.  

https://mymnfc.com/ 

  • Survivor Support Centre (902) 494-1367 

Dalhousie Student Union, 3rd Floor, Room 347 

www.dsu.ca/survivor-support 

Email: survivorsupport@dal.ca 

  • South House Sexual and Gender Resource Centre: (902)-494-2432 

https://southhousehalifax.org/ 

Email: info@southhousehalifax.ca 

Health care

  • Bedford Basin Women’s Health Clinic, Bedford, NS, 902-444-8726 

A women’s wellness and sexual health clinic.  

https://bbwomenshealth.ca/  

  • Halifax Sexual Health Centre: Halifax, NS, 902-455-9656 

The HSHC offers clinical services and education. Anyone with a valid Nova Scotia health card can access comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care here, STI testing, Anonymous HIV testing, pregnancy tests, pregnancy options, and transgender/gender affirming health care by our experienced nurses and doctors. https://hshc.ca/ 

 

    • STI and STD Clinic 902-473-2272 between 1 and 3 p.m. on Monday and Thursday  

5th floor Dickson Building, QEII 
5820 University Avenue, Halifax, NS 

https://www.nshealth.ca/service-details/STI%20and%20STD%20Clinic 

  • Nova Scotia Women’s Choice Clinic 1-833-352-0719 (toll free) 

The provincial self-referral line (1-833-352-0719) as information about accessing medical and surgical abortions at the QEII and other locations across the province. https://www.nshealth.ca/abortion 

Legal advice

  • Nova Scotia Legal Advice for Sexual Assault Survivors Program:  

The Independent Legal Advice (ILA) program in Nova Scotia provides free, independent legal advice to adult survivors of sexual assault, and participants do not have to report to the police or take legal action if they use this service. Registering is done by calling, texting, or emailing 211 and saying that you were sexually assaulted in Nova Scotia, and you want to talk to a lawyer. This service is available to sexual assault survivors 16 years old or older and whose assault took place in Nova Scotia. https://novascotia.ca/sexualassaultlegaladvice/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2biW1cbu2AIVyeDICh2aaw-QEAAYASAAEgKXVPD_BwE 

  • Legal Info Nova Scotia, 1-800-665-9779 (toll free) 

This non-profit organization provides legal information (not advice) to all Nova Scotians, on issues including housing, family, Newcomers to Canada, sexual harassment, youth, and more. 

https://www.legalinfo.org/ 

  • Mi’kmaw Legal Support Network Mainland NS – 902-895- 1141  

A support system free of charge for Indigenous people. Indigenous Victim Support Workers can guide a Victim/Survivor throughout the court process, help them prepare for court, and assist with victim impact statements.  Charges do not have to be laid to access services.  

Transition houses

  • Adsum House, Halifax 902-423-4443 

https://adsumforwomen.org 

Shelter and housing for women, children and trans people.  

Contact: https://adsumforwomen.org/contact 

  • Alice Housing, Dartmouth, NS, 902-466-8459 

https://alicehouse.ca/ 

Safe second stage housing, counselling, and support services for women, fem-identifying individuals, and their children.   

Contact: https://alicehouse.ca/ 

https://www.bryonyhouse.ca/ 

24 bed shelter for women and children 

Contact: https://www.bryonyhouse.ca/contact/ 

  • Transition House Association of Nova Scotia, 1-800-563-2945 24/7  

Provides referrals and support to women seeking emergency shelters in Nova Scotia. 

The website details all THANS shelters in the province.  

https://thans.ca/ 

  • Metro Turning Point 902-420-3282 

Centre for unhoused men. 

https://nechc.com/what-we-do/housing-first/metro-turning-point-centre/ 

 

Victim services

  • Cyberscan, Nova Scotia, Dial 211 

Intimate Images and cyber-protection support for victims. If you’ve been bullied online or had intimate pictures of you shared without your consent, you’re protected under the law. 

https://novascotia.ca/cyberscan/ 

  • Halifax Regional Police (Non-Emergency): 902-490-5020 or 902-490-7252 (TTY) 

When an officer is required to come to the scene but it’s not an emergency.   

  • Victim Services-Halifax Regional Municipality:  902-490-5300, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.  If you’re unable to call due to hearing impairment, it is possible to text (902) 497-4709. Emotional support, help with police information if charges have been laid and referrals to programs in Halifax Regional Municipality for victims of crime, in particular to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and serious crimes. https://www.halifax.ca/fire-police/police/programs-services/victim-services-halifax 
  • Victim Services-Department of Justice Victim Services: 902-424-8785 

We offer a range of services to help victims of crime, and can help provide the victim, or spouse or relative, with information, support and assistance as their case moves through the criminal justice system. When criminal charges are laid, victims and family members can contact us directly for help. https://novascotia.ca/just/victim_services/ 

  • Nova Scotia Public Prosecution: Halifax Office (902) 424-8734  

This website the role of the Public Prosecution Service and the job of the Crown Attorney, clearly and simply and will help you to understand how a criminal prosecution works in Canada. https://novascotia.ca/pps/  Contact info https://novascotia.ca/pps/contact.asp 

 

 

Contact us

The Manager of Opportunity & Belonging is available to support members of the campus community on any issues related to sexual violence. 

 

Contact 

Dr. Taq Bhandal

tbhandal@nscad.ca