Has something happened to you? We have lots of resources to answer questions and help you heal.
Click on the button below to access the latest apps, videos, reading material and games!
Are you a parent or caregiver to a child or youth that has suffered abuse? We have resources to help guide and support you!
Click on the button below to access books, videos and apps to help you through this journey with your child.
We have a number of downloadable resources for both youth and caregivers.
Click below to check out some informative books and guides.
The staff and board of the VCAPCC stand in support and solidarity with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Nation. The pain and loss their community is facing after the discovery of a mass grave of 215 Indigenous children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School is beyond devastating, it is an atrocity. This tragedy has caused a re-opening of wounds, as the ongoing colonization of Indigenous peoples in Canada continues, and the pain and losses have not been redressed.
We want to honour the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Nation and send our deepest
condolences to the community and the families of the 215 children whose lives were stolen from them through colonial violence and genocide committed by the
government of Canada and the specific churches who operated these places of
cultural genocide (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian and United churches). In our commitment to truth and reconciliation we stand for justice and action, we call on the these churches to publicly apologize, and make amends for the violence, pain, and trauma they have caused for generations of Indigenous peoples. We call to action the federal government of Canada to recognize the loss and the impacts of this genocide by honouring those many individuals, families, and communities impacted by the residential school system with a National Statutory holiday – where a day each year is observed for remembering these tragedies. We also stand in solidarity with Indigenous leaders and their call to action to governments across Canada (provincial and federal) to support communities in a thorough investigation of all residential schools sites to identify and repatriate the remains of their beloved children back to their families and communities. The pain of this atrocity reverberates through communities across the country, including ours. We understand this is very difficult for Indigenous families and communities at this time, including survivors of residential schools and for those who may have had a loved one who never returned. Please know that that we want to honour and respect these losses for Indigenous peoples and we hold space for your grieving and healing journey. For our clients and families please reach out to your counsellor or victim service worker if you need support, and for those in our community who do not access our services – here is a brief list of additional supports:
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Website – http://www.trc.ca/index.html
Indian Residential School Survivors Society – 24 Hour Crisis Line (1-800-721-0066)
KUU-US Crisis Line Society – 24 Hour Crisis Line (British Columbia) (1-800-588-8717)
National Indian Residential School Crisis Line (1-800-925-4419)
Métis Nation BC – Mental Health Services - https://www.mnbc.ca/
First Nations Health Authority – https://www.fnha.ca/benefits/mental-health
Our Call to Action for Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation
We sent this open letter to various governing bodies (including the Catholic church) asking for justice and accountability from Canada and the religious institutions involved in the residential schools and genocide of Indigenous peoples.
Information on how our office is operating during COVID-19 as well as resources for families and individuals.
www.youthspace.ca --online or text chat and support.
www.mindyourmind.ca --Mind Your Mind is a space for youth and young adults (ages 14-24) to find support when going through tough times. It's a place to get unstuck. A place to share, grow, and learn, a place to meet people like you who are coping with challenges, a place to get what you need for yourself and your friends. Designed by youth for youth.
www.kidshelpphone.ca (1-800-668-6868) -- Kids Help Phone provides information and support. Confidential and safe. Live web chat or phone support.
www.youthinbc.com --Youth in BC-Help and information for mental health
www.scarleteen.com --Scarleteen - Sex Ed for the Real world – inclusive, comprehensive, supportive sexuality and relationship info for teens and emerging adults. Information, videos, facts, help, and online chat and text support.
Cosmic Kids Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga/videos
BC Mental Health Service Portal: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/mental-health-support-in-bc
Anxiety BC Youth: http://youth.anxietybc.com/
Cycling Through Consent clarifies consent and why it is a must for everything from riding a bike to sex.
James is Dead: You wouldn't blame someone for getting murdered so why blame someone for getting sexually assaulted?
MindShift is an app designed to help teens and young adults cope with anxiety. It can help you change how you think about anxiety. Rather than trying to avoid anxiety, you can make an important shift and face it.
Stay Alive is a pocket suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide
Stress, anxiety, and depression can get in the way of you living your life. Pacifica gives you psychologist-designed tools to address them based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness meditation, relaxation, and mood/health tracking
Breathe2Relax is a portable stress management tool which provides detailed information on the effects of stress on the body and instructions and practice exercises to help users learn the stress management skill called diaphragmatic breathing
If you or someone you know has been hurt by someone, or is experiencing abuse, violence, or neglect there are people here to help you.
Get help by calling the helpline at 310-1234. You do not need an area code. You can call at any time of the day or night and you do not have to give your name.
If you are in immediate danger – call the police – 9-1-1 24 hours a day 7 days a week
Telling someone that you have been hurt or are experiencing abuse can feel scary. There are people here to support you. You can call a Victim Service worker that can answer questions and help you with the reporting process.
If you live in the Greater Victoria Area, call a Victim Service worker at (250) 385-6111, Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm.
Physical abuse is often the most easily recognized form of abuse. Physical abuse can be any kind of hitting, shaking, burning, pinching, biting, choking, throwing, beating, and other actions that cause physical injury, leave marks, or cause pain. Physical abuse of a child is when a parent or caregiver causes any non-accidental physical injury to a child. There are many signs of physical abuse.
Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse occurs when an adult uses a child for sexual purposes or involves a child in sexual acts. It also includes when a child who is older or more powerful uses another child for sexual gratification or excitement.
Sexual abuse of children includes:
Emotional abuse: When a parent or caregiver harms a child’s mental and social development, or causes severe emotional harm, it is considered emotional abuse. While a single incident may be abuse, most often emotional abuse is a pattern of behavior that causes damage over time.
Child neglect is when a parent or caregiver does not give the care, supervision, affection and support needed for a child’s health, safety and well-being. Child neglect includes:
Family violence can affect anyone. It can happen in any kind of family. Sometimes parents abuse each other, which can be hard for a child to witness. Some parents abuse their kids by using physical or verbal cruelty as a way of discipline.
In a young child:
In an older child:
If you think or suspect a child or youth (anyone 18 and under) is being, is at risk of being, or has been abused or neglected, you have the legal duty to report your concerns to a child protection worker at:
Helpline for Children: 310-1234
Ministry for Children: 1-800-663-9122
If the child or youth is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 or your local police department.
Parenting Tips- What is positive discipline? outlines the difference between positive and negative discipline and the 8 key features of positive discipline
I Am Not OK- Teen suicide prevention and awareness discusses some of the potential causes and symptoms of depression and what to do if one believes that a youth may be having suicidal thoughts
Emotional Abuse Is Far Worse Than You Think shares why emotional or psychological maltreatment may have consequences that are as bad, if not worse than physical or sexual abuse.
Parenting & Discipline: How to Discipline Your Child Without Yelling or Spanking provides tips for using non-physical discipline.
National Child Trauma Stress Network (USA) -- Resources and information for supporting your child with trauma
Open Mind BC -- Help and information for mental health
The Door That’s Not Locked -- Run by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, The Door That’s Not Locked website provides information for parents, caregivers, and professionals for Online safety, including age appropriate resources
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection -- The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is a registered charity dedicated to the personal safety of all children
Wise Practices -- Wise Practices is a new website that was created to respond to the First Nations' youth suicide epidemic by supporting communities
Copyright © 2022 Victoria Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Centre - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy