Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre

We are committed to providing compassionate, confidential, sensitive care and service to all of our patients. These are the values by which we work and provide care:

We will listen and believe what you tell us about the assault.
We will provide respectful, non-judgmental care and support.
We will help you make informed decisions about your care.
We can help you begin to regain a sense of control in your life.

Upon your arrival to the emergency department, the hospital will contact a specially trained nurse (SANE) from our program to support you.

The involvement of police is your decision and will be respected by our staff. The hospital will not contact the police without your permission.

Once you are medically cleared, the SANE will accompany you to the treatment room and proceed with the services offered by the clinic. The choice of services offered include:

• Upon consent and if the assault occurred within the past 12 days, collection and recording of physical evidence for completion of a forensic evidence kit, which may be used in legal proceedings.
• Information, testing, prophylactic antibiotics to prevent sexually transmitted infections
• Prophylactic antiviral medications to prevent HIV
• The emergency contraceptive pill to prevent pregnancy
• Information and referral to community resources
• Supportive counselling
• Arranging follow-up medical care and counselling with our centre

There is no right or wrong way to feel after an assault. Some people experience reactions directly after the assault, while others may have reactions days, weeks, or months later. These reactions can be overwhelming and may interfere with your everyday life. Some of the normal reactions that you may experience are:

During this time, caring for yourself is really important.

• Try to eat healthy food to help keep up your strength
• Try to keep doing the things that make you feel good
• Know your rights and know how to get the help you need
• Say positive things to yourself to restore your sense of well-being, like “I am strong”, “I did not deserve this”, “I am taking back my personal power”, “I am healing each and every day.”
• Be patient with yourself. It takes time to recover.
• Believe in yourself and know that you will get through this.
• You do not have to recover on your own. There is support available to you.

Please contact us if you would like to come a see one of our counsellors.

Sexual assault is any form of unwanted sexual contact that is forced upon someone without that persons consent. If you have experienced sexual assault, know that there is help and support for you. You do not have to experience this alone.

When you arrive to the hospital, a specially trained nurse from our program will be paged. She will arrive within 45 minutes and meet you in the emergency room. These nurses are called SANE’s (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) who are on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. SANE’s can spend time with you in a private space and room to help you cope with what has happened and to help you understand your options. It is your choice whether you want to involve police. It is your choice if you would like evidence collected. The SANE will support you around making these very difficult choices.

The Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre can support you with:

Domestic violence and abuse do not discriminate, but it often escalates and places the person experiencing violence at great risk. Domestic violence and abuse can be physical, emotional, verbal, financial, psychological or sexual, and is often used as a weapon of control and intimidation by spouse or partner.

It is never okay for someone to hurt you. Your safety is very important. If you or somebody you know is experiencing violence in their relationship, know that help is available. Call us or check out our resources for more information.

If you are in need of medical attention due to a recent incident of physical domestic violence, please go to either the Juravinski Emergency Department or the Hamilton General Hospital Emergency Department. Service is available 24 hours a day every day of the year. If you are 17 years of age or under, please go to the Emergency Department at McMaster Children’s Hospital.

Follow-up Medical Care and Support

The clinic provides medical care and counselling to adults and youth 13 years of age and older who have experienced sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse. Services for children 12 years of age and under are provided by the Child Advocacy and Assessment Program.

Counselling is also available for men, women, and transgendered people who have experienced any kind of violence in their relationships with a current or past partner.

• You may be seen for counselling at the SA/DV Care Centre even if you did not receive emergency medical care through our centre (or at all).
• You can call our clinic yourself and we will return your call as soon as possible. You do not have to be referred by another professional.
• You are in control of medical decisions and counselling sessions.

What should I expect?

Counselling is focused on healing from trauma, and you are in charge of your healing process. Your counsellor has knowledge, expertise, and skills to help you manage and/or resolve feelings related to sexual assault, but only with the understanding that you are the expert in your life. Counselling can move as quickly or as slowly as you would like. You are in control of your counselling sessions.

How long can I come for counselling?

Counselling at the SA/DV Care Centre is short-term, which means that you could come for counselling on an on-going basis for weeks or months (as oppose to years). Some people come for 1 session, while others come for 12 or 24 sessions. You will find the number of sessions that works for you and your counsellor.

How much does it cost?

Counselling is free. (Covered by OHIP)

Can you explain confidentiality?

What you talk about with your counsellor is confidential – this means that it stays between you and your counsellor. Even the charts are done separately, so that other health care professionals outside of the SA/DV Care Centre will not have access to information related to the sexual assault. You would need to request the access of the charts to another health care professional, and you would need to sign a consent for your counsellor to speak with another professional or family member on your behalf.

There are 3 exceptions to the confidentiality that you have with your counsellor.

1. If your counsellor feels you are at immediate risk to commit suicide or commit a violent act against another person.
2. If you disclose information that a child under 16 years of age is at risk of abuse or neglect.
3. If the SA/DVCC receives a subpoena to release information to an attorney (if you are involved in legal proceedings).

For follow-up medical care or to inquire about counselling services or referrals, please contact our business line at 905-521-2100 ext. 73557

For 24-hour crisis support please contact our community partner, SACHA at 905-525-4162

• SACHA
  • 24 hour Support Line: 905-525-4162
  • Business Phone: 905-525-4573
• Interval House
  • Business: 905-387-9959
  • Crisis: 1-888-387-8881
• 1infour
• Native Women’s Centre
  • 1-888-308-6559
• Francophone Crisis
  • Fem-aide Francophone Crisis Line: 1-877-336-2433
• Assaulted Women’s Helpline
  • 1-866-863-0511
• Family Law Information Centre
  • 905-645-5252 ext. 2554
• Jared’s Place
  • 905-522-0127 ext. 207
• Family Law Education for Women
• Your Legal Rights
• Legal Aid Ontario