Safe Exit SAFE EXIT Safe Exit COVER YOUR TRACKS Francais FRANCAIS
Menu
Safe Exit SAFE EXIT
Cover Your Tracks COVER YOUR TRACKS
Francais FRANCAIS
What is Abuse >> How to Recognize Abuse

If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you could be in an
abusive relationship, or your relationship could become abusive.

  • Do you feel nervous around him/her?
  • Do you have to be careful to control your behaviour to avoid his/her anger?
  • Do you feel pressured by him/her when it comes to sex?
  • Are you scared of disagreeing with him/her?
  • Does he/she criticize you, or humiliate you in front of other people?
  • Is he/she always checking up or questioning you about what you do without him/her?
  • Does he/she repeatedly and wrongly accuse you of seeing other people?
  • Does he/she tell you that if you changed, he/she wouldn't abuse you?
  • Does his/her jealousy stop you from seeing friends or family?
  • Does he/she make you feel like you are wrong, stupid, crazy, or inadequate?
  • Has he/she ever scared you with violence or threatening behaviour?
  • Do you often do things to please him/her, rather than to please yourself?
  • Does he/she prevent you from going out or doing things you want to do?
  • Do you feel that, with him/her, nothing you do is ever good enough?
  • Does he/she say that they will kill or hurt themselves if you break up with them?
  • Does he/she make excuses for their abusive behaviour by saying it's
    because of alcohol or drugs, or because they can't control their temper,
    or that they were "just joking"?

Facts

  • 3 in 10 women aged 15-24 were emotionally, financially, or psychologically abused by a partner. (Gender-Based Violence: It's Not Just - Statistics Canada, 2025)

  • 1 in 10 women aged 15-24 has been sexually assaulted (Gender-Based Violence: It's Not Just - Statistics Canada, 2025)

  • 6 in 10 women aged 15-24 has experienced unwanted sexual behaviours in public (Gender-Based Violence: It's Not Just - Statistics Canada, 2025)

  • On average, every 6 days a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner (Canadian Women's Foundation, 2016)

  • In 2019 - 80% of people who had experienced intimate partner violence did not report it to police (Family Violence in Canada - Statistics Canada, 2021)

  • From 2014 to 2022, intimate partner sexual assault increased 163%, intimate partner physical assault increased 14%, and indecent or harassing communications increased 38% (Statistics Canada, 2023)