What can I do?
I need help...
If you are in distress and need help immediately, call 911. If you need a bed and a place to stay, YWCA Prince Albert operates emergency homeless shelters at our Central Avenue and Our House locations. They are both open with advocates on duty twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. Our advocates can direct you to our emergency shelters or other emergency services in the Prince Albert region.
There are services available to you to help you leave an abusive relationship. Many of these services are listed in Saskatchewan 211, which can be reached by calling or texting 2-1-1 visiting sk.211.ca or using the web chat on the website. Saskatchewan 211 can connect you to Crisis Support, Counselling and Support Centres, and Emergency Shelters and Transition Houses (such as YWCA Prince Albert). You can also call 811 in Saskatchewan for mental health support.
My friend or family member needs help...
If you have a family member or a friend in a crisis, do not leave them alone. Try to get the person to seek help immediately. Please visit our Resources page to see how to best help your friend in need.
Central Avenue Contact:
Phone: 306-763-8571
Location: 1895 Central Avenue, Prince Albert, SK
Our House Contact:
Phone: 306-922-6162
Location: 94 15th Street East, Prince Albert, SK
What is Abuse?
Abuse is the when someone takes actions or uses words to control another person by causing negative feelings and fear. This purposeful manipulation is used to intimidate and can result in lifelong trauma, mental illness, and low self-esteem. There are a variety of different forms that abuse can take, and victims may experience some, or all of these forms.
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Types of Abuse
Physical abuse includes acts such as punching, slapping, hitting, hair-pulling, strangulation, and use of weapons to inflict physical pain and injury. This type of abuse is the one most commonly thought of in the discussion of domestic abuse, and is the most easily recognized.
Mental and emotional abuse is the use of manipulation, shaming, threats, degradation, intimidation, humiliation, gaslighting, stalking, acting jealously, threatening suicide, and more to produce fear, low self-esteem, and guilt. Isolating someone from their family, friends, and other members of their support network also falls under this category. This type of abuse can be subtle and more difficult to recognize because the method of delivering these abuses can vary widely.
Sexual abuse can come in several forms, and can include sexual acts without consent, forcing or withholding birth control, and physically hurting the victim during sex. Remember: consent cannot be given when a person is asleep, intoxicated, or fears saying no. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
Technological abuse is the control or restriction of a person’s activities when using technology, or the use of technology to control or spy on someone. This can include monitoring emails, checking browser history, installing applications on a person’s phone to monitor movement, listening into phone calls, monitoring social media, or restricting a person’s access to communication methods. Cameras and microphones could be installed to monitor a person while the abuser is away.
Financial abuse is the control of access to economic resources such as money. This could include stealing a person’s money or coercing them to give the money to the abuser, monitoring how a person spends their money, preventing a person from engaging in money-earning ventures such as jobs, or intentionally causing the loss of a person’s employment by preventing them from attending employment or calling them during work.
Spiritual abuse can include the use of a belief system to control behavior, forcing beliefs on someone, or using beliefs as an excuse for other abuse. This type of abuse may involve religious or other belief systems that can be utilized against the victim.
Child abuse includes abusing a child physically, emotionally, or sexually, preventing a person from providing care to a child, restricting access to a child, or threatening to inflict harm on a child to control a person. This abuse can include one or multiple children, and can cause victims to stay in abusive relationships longer to prevent harm to the child.
Pet abuse is like child abuse in that it may involve abusing an animal, preventing a person from providing care to their pet, or threatening to inflict harm on a pet to control a person.
The abuser may make excuses for the abuse such as saying it won’t happen again, that they are trying to teach you to be better, or that they only do it because they love you so much. They may also gaslight you by claiming that you’re being dramatic, or giving another reason why you’re making a big deal out of nothing.
Sometimes abuse can be difficult to recognize, but looking for the above signs can help. If you are afraid of the person, that is a strong sign of abuse.
Abuse can happen to anyone in any relationship, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, marital status, health, or appearance. Remember, abuse is never your fault. Reaching out for help is a big decision, and can be a complicated choice.
What do I do?
An abusive relationship is an unsafe relationship. It is important to take certain steps to ensure your safety.
Safety Plans
Developing a safety plan for when a situation becomes violent or abusive is an important first step. This is your plan for leaving the relationship and means deciding what you will bring, where you will go, important telephone numbers, and how you will put this plan into action. You may also have to make a safety plan for your children and pets.
Keeping Record
Keeping a record of events is important to help your decision-making and will be helpful if you decide to report the abuse to the police or take other legal action. Your documentation of events should include what happened, your feelings, a list of things that may have been taken from you, printouts of threatening communication, and pictures of injuries. It is important to hide your documentation and other materials where the abuser cannot find it.
Using Technology Safely
It is vital that you keep your communication and searches secret from your abuser. It is possible to monitor your activity by looking through search history, emails, location information, or social media.
Ensure that if you are using social media, that your privacy settings are high so that your abuser cannot find information you do not want them to see.
Your email account should be secured with a strong password and you should ensure that you sign out when you are done using it. If you are unable to secure your account, be sure to delete incoming and outgoing emails as needed.
Your phone can be secured with a pin, fingerprint, or password. This will keep your communications secure. Your phone also has location tracking, which can be used to monitor location. This feature can be turned off to keep your whereabouts secure.
When using the internet, be sure to delete your browser history or use something like Google Chrome’s “Incognito Mode” to prevent monitoring. Instructions for deleting browsing history on common internet browsers is included below.
Deleting Browser History
1. Click on Tools in the menu.
2. Click on Delete Browsing History.
3.Select which items you wish to delete
4. Click Delete.
1. Click on ...
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Privacy, search, and services.
4. Under Clear Browsing Data click Choose what to clear.
5. Set a time range and select what you wish to delete.
6. Click Clear now.
1. Click on ...
2. Click on Settings.
3. Click on Privacy and Security.
4. Click on Clear browsing data.
5. Select a time range and what you wish to delete.
6. Click Clear Data.
1. Click History.
2. Click Clear History.
3. Select a time range to clear.
1. Click on the settings icon.
2. Click Go to full browser settings.
3. Click on Clear browsing data.
4. Select a time range and what you wish to delete.
5. Click Clear data.
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Leaving
The most common reason that leaving an abusive relationship fails is because the victim was unable to find support. Be sure that you have a plan in place prior to leaving to give yourself the highest chance of success.
Creating a support network by choosing trustworthy people to assist you during this process is important. Your support network can consist of friends and family and people from service organizations.
Financial planning prior to leaving is also important, but do not let a lack of money deter you from leaving. Choose a new bank that your abuser does not use, and contact the Ministry of Social Services if you need financial assistance.
Leaving is difficult and can be a challenge, however when it is time to go, leave.
Starting Over
There will be a lot of changes in your life after you leave, which can be scary. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your friends, family, or trusted others for support.
At this time it is important to cut ties with the abuser if you can. This will reduce the chance of returning. You may still have feelings or care for your abuser, and this is normal. Be sure to keep yourself safe by securing your new home and seeking help when you need it.
Remember: you can do it! You deserve to be safe and healthy and free from abuse.
Downloadable Information Pamphlets
Our informational pamphlet “What can I do? Escaping Abuse” is available in multiple languages and can be downloaded and printed. Click the language below for the desired pamphlet.