Immediate Support
To access immediate support, call 604-255-6344 in the Lower Mainland or reach our national toll-free line at 1-877-392-7583
Our Immediate Support Includes:
24-Hour Crisis & Information Line
Text & Chat Support Salal Connect
Hospital Accompaniment & Post Assault Health Care
Police Accompaniment
Our services are available to women, Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender diverse people, ages 14 and up.
All of our services are free and confidential.
We take intentional steps to ensure our support is not only inclusive, but also affirming and responsive to the specific needs of Indigenous, Black, and peoples of colour, trans and gender diverse survivors, and sex workers, communities who continue to face additional systemic barriers when seeking support.
Every staff member at Salal is committed to providing gender-affirming care.
Whether you are accessing crisis support, counselling, groups, or advocacy services, you will be met with respect, dignity, and an understanding of the barriers Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse survivors often face.
You deserve support that sees you fully—and we are here to provide it.
Our approach is rooted in an intersectional feminist, decolonizing, and anti-oppressive lens framework.
The services listed below are offered through Salal’s community-based Victim Services Program.
24-Hour Crisis & Information Line
Lower Mainland: 604-255-6344
National toll-free: 1-877-392-7583
You don’t have to go through this alone.
If you need support, have questions about rape, sexual assault, stalking, catcalling or any other form of sexualized violence, or want to know how to help a survivor in your life, we’re here.
Salal’s 24-Hour Crisis & Information Line provides immediate emotional support to survivors and their loved ones. Our team members are trained to offer:
Confidential, non-judgmental support for anyone impacted by sexualized violence
Suicide risk assessment and safety planning
Information about sexualized violence, healing, and available options
Referrals to Salal’s programs and other community resources
Intake and assessment for all of Salal’s services
Support for loved ones navigating how to help a survivor
Everyone who answers the crisis line has been given the skills and resources to work with trans and gender diverse survivors, and will not make assumptions about your gender, or the gender of the person who caused you harm.
Every call is answered with empathy and care.
We believe you. We are here to listen. We can help you find the support you need.
Text & Chat Support
Salal Connect
How To Reach Us
Text us at 604-245-2425
Call our 24-Hour crisis & information line at 604-255-6344
or toll-free 1-877-392-7583
Service Hours
Our text and online chat services are available:
Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 1 AM PT
Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM PT
Sunday: 9 AM – 11 PM PT
For 24-Hour support, please call our Crisis Line.
Your Privacy & Safety
Your conversations with us are confidential and secure.
You can end the conversation at any time.
Chat history is erased once your session ends.
If you’re using a shared or public device, be sure to clear your browser history for added privacy.
We know that reaching out for support is a big first step, and texting or chatting may be the way you prefer to connect.
That’s why we offer secure, confidential text and chat support for both survivors and those caring for survivors—so you can connect with us in the way that feels most comfortable for you.
When you text or chat with us, a real, trained person, will read and respond to your messages.
Everyone who answers the crisis line has been given the skills and resources to work with trans and gender diverse survivors, and will not make assumptions about your gender, or the gender of the person who caused you harm.
We’re here to help keep you safe.
While no online system can be 100% secure, we encourage you to use a device that feels safe for you and where you have privacy.
Hospital Accompaniment & Post Assault Health Care
If you need medical care after a sexual assault, you don’t have to go alone.
We’re here to support you 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, alongside the Sexual Assault Service. You can receive care at Vancouver General Hospital or, UBC Hospital, or BC Children’s Hospital for survivors 16 years of age or younger. Hospital accompaniment is available within 7 days of an assault.
We provide support 365 days a year.
What To Expect:
When you go for medical care, we’ll be with you for emotional support and advocacy during your exam.
We’ll also provide you with information about forensic evidence collection and your legal options.
You don’t need to show ID or have medical insurance.
You guide this process – police are only contacted if you choose.
We can continue to support you beyond the hospital and also offer you referrals to support your healing and follow up care.
If you need a ride to the hospital: We can provide you with free transportation to and from the hospital.
How To Access This Support:
You can go directly to the Emergency Room at Vancouver General Hospital or UBC Hospital, where you’ll be offered the option to have a Salal support worker present.
If you request one, a support worker will arrive at the hospital within 30 minutes.
Or, you can request a Salal support worker to meet you at the hospital, by calling the 24-Hour Crisis Line and Information Line at 604-255-6344 or 1-877-392-7583 and select option #2.
Additional Medical Support
We can also accompany you for follow-up care, including:
STI testing, emergency contraception, and abortion care
Mental health assessments at Vancouver General Hospital
HIV case management and access to PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)
Not sure what care you need? We’re here to help.
Please call our 24-Hour Crisis Line and Information Line at 604-255-6344 or 1-877-392-7583 for guidance and referrals.
Immediate Support When Reporting To Police After Sexual Assault
We support you to understand your rights after sexual violence and within systems and consider different ways to address what happened.
We explain, support and advocate alongside you. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you have autonomy over your own experiences.
If you choose to file a police report, you have options. You can file your report at Salal, where our reporting room is designed with you in mind, or at a police station.
We’re here to support you either way. Here’s how:
At Salal:
Our reporting room offers a safe environment.
We help you understand what to expect before, during, and after reporting.
We provide emotional support throughout the process and ensure your rights and choices are respected.
At a Police Station:
We can accompany you if you choose to report at a police station.
We offer guidance on the process, so you know what to expect.
We support you in ensuring your rights and choices are upheld.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Sexualized Violence?
Sexualized violence is any act—physical, verbal, spiritual, or psychological—that uses sex or sexuality to exert power, control, or cause harm.
You have every right to reach out for support if you’re feeling unsafe, violated, or unsure. You don’t need to have everything figured out to talk to us. We are here for you, and you deserve care, understanding, and a space to be heard.
Call 604-255-6344 in the Lower Mainland or reach our national toll-free line at 1-877-392-7583.
How Do You Know If What You Experienced Was Sexualized Violence?
You have every right to seek support if you feel unsafe, violated, or coerced. Sexualized violence can take many forms, including:
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You have every right to reach out for support if you’re feeling unsafe, violated, or unsure. You don’t need to have everything figured out to talk to us. We are here for you, and you deserve care, understanding, and a space to be heard.
Call 604-255-6344 in the Lower Mainland or reach our national toll-free line at 1-877-392-7583.
Do you need to collect my old name?
No! Salal will never ask for your legal name or sex marker.
We will ask you what name you want us to use for you.
Other places, such as the police department or hospital, might need to collect your legal name and sex marker, but the Salal staff are happy to advocate for the use of your correct name and pronouns wherever possible.
Will you call the police on me?
The decision to call police is always made by survivors at Salal.
We will never call the police due to mental health or suicidal ideation.
Your counsellor, or victim service worker can tell you more about our confidentiality policies, or you can contact our 24-Hour Crisis and Information Line at 1-877-392-7583.
Will Salal support me if I’m a sex worker?
Yes! We understand that there is a strong community connection between trans people and sex workers, and that many trans survivors are also sex workers.
In 2018, Salal made an apology to sex workers for failing to support them before, and committed to advocating for the decriminalization of sex work.
We understand that sex work is real, important work and will affirm sex workers in all of our services.
What is Salal’s mandate, and who can access your programs?
Each of Salal’s programs has a distinct mandate, we work specifically with sexual violence—including sexual assault, adult survivors of sexual abuse, stalking, harassment, and non-consensual image sharing.