Supports for Adult Sexual Violence

Are you or someone you know experiencing sexualized violence? There is help, please reach out for support.
If you are in danger, please call 911 or your local police (contact numbers below).
To find supports you can call 211 or the Mental Health and Addictions Phone Line at 1-833-553-6983.

Sexual Violence Prevention Strategy

The provincial government is launching A Strategy for Preventing and Responding to Adult Sexual Violence in Prince Edward Island: Creating A Culture of Care , to prevent sexual violence and improve supports for people impacted by sexual violence. This is the first of its kind strategy for the province and includes three priority areas: preventing sexual violence; responding to sexual violence; and coordinating responses.

This 5-year strategy was created using input from province-wide engagement with survivors, service providers, and experts. The strategy outlines a set of actions that focus on preventive measures and improve a shared response by: 

• empowering frontline services with knowledge and skills  
• strengthening trauma-informed processes
• increasing options for survivors and interventions for perpetrators 
• coordinating overall efforts to address sexual violence

These actions will help to create a culture of care in which every member of our society can understand their role in preventing sexual violence. It will also ensure that people who are impacted by sexual violence and communities have access to a coordinated and trauma-informed system of supports and services that acknowledges their individual needs. 

If you have experienced a sexual assault:  

Emergency Departments:  Emergency Department health care providers are trained to provide Enhanced Emergency Sexual Assault Services (EESAS).  All patients reporting to an Emergency Department will be treated with respect, compassion and belief, and will be provided services to meet their health care needs (first option). In addition to receiving health care, at each hospital Emergency Department a person will also be given the option to have evidence collected to help any potential police investigation (second option).

When you consent to have evidence collected, you can choose Third Option and have the evidence collected at the Emergency Department and stored anonymously for up to one year. During that year, if you choose, you can reach out to police or Victim Services and give police permission to access this evidence.

Victim Services are available to help you.  You do not need to make a complaint to police to contact Victim Services. If you choose to engage with the criminal justice system, Victim Services assists victims of crime throughout their involvement in the criminal justice system. Assistance is available to victims of crime anywhere on Prince Edward Island at no cost.
Charlottetown: Telephone: (902) 368‑4582 or email victimservicescharlottetown@gov.pe.ca
Summerside: Telephone: (902) 888‑8218 or email: victimservicessummerside@gov.pe.ca

Police:
You can call 911 to report to police. This number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You may also report directly to police:
Non-Emergency Numbers:
RCMP:

• Charlottetown RCMP                         902 368 9300
• Charlottetown RCMP (After hours)    902 566 7111
• Summerside RCMP                           902 436 9300
• West Prince RCMP                            902 853 9300
• Montague RCMP                               902 838 9300
• Souris RCMP                                     902 687 9300  

Municipal Police:

• Charlottetown Police Services           902 629 4172
• Summerside Police Services             902 432 1201
• Kensington Police Service                 902 836 4499

You can also make a report to police with assistance from:

• a Hospital Emergency Department through the Enhanced Emergency Sexual Assault Services program,
• Victim Services Worker or the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Center

PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Center provides services to adults and youth of all genders over the age of 16 who are survivors of recent or historic sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, across Prince Edward Island. Services include individual therapy, support and information. They also manage a group program for male survivors. 
Contact: 902-368-8055 or 1-888-368-8055 toll-free to request counselling services

If you need support and information:

RISE Program offers free legal resources and support to people 16 years old and older who have experienced sexual or intimate partner violence or workplace sexual harassment.
Email: rise@legalinfopei.ca , Phone or text: 902-218-6143

•    Up to four hours of free legal advice from a lawyer
•    Plain language legal information
•    Support navigating the justice system
•    Referrals to other community services

https://www.risepei.com/

Community Mental Health: Mental health walk-in clinics offer immediate mental health support to help with anxiety, as well as life events causing stress and other mental health issues. No appointment or referral is required. You will be able to see a registered mental health therapist for 45-60 minutes. There is no cost for this service.
Walk-in clinics are available throughout the province. Locations and times are available through this link:
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-pei/mental-health-walk-clinics  

If you need emergency shelter:

Anderson House provides emergency shelter for women and children who are in need of safety because of violence in their lives. Anderson House services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Anderson House provides confidential support and information.
Contact: 902-892-0960 or 1-800-240-9894 toll-free

Chief Mary Bernard Shelter: A shelter for women in distress, women without housing, or for young mothers who need extra support.  The shelter provides safe and supportive housing on Lennox Island to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous women and their children who are experiencing family violence.
Contact: 1-902-831-2332 or 1-855-297-2332 toll-free

Blooming House Shelter:  Provides safe overnight shelter for women in the Charlottetown area, opened from 4 p.m. - to 8:00 a.m. 7 days a week.
Contact: 902-213-9969

For more information on services, please click on Information For People in an Abusive Relationship : A guide to finding services that can help you. This guide also provides helpful information for friends, families and neighbours who care.
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/publication/information-people-abusive-relationship-2021