Become a Signal For Help Responder
When you know how to respond to the signs of abuse, you can change the story
If someone in your life told you they were experiencing abuse, would you know how to help?
There’s a lot of stigma and silence around gender-based violence in our society: too many people who experience abuse are shamed, silenced, and stigmatized, and too many people don’t feel they have the confidence or knowledge to support them.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can support a friend, family member, or colleague who is experiencing abuse, here’s what you can do:



What is the Signal for Help?
The “Signal for Help” is a tool to help those experiencing gender-based violence, created by the Canadian Women’s Foundation. It’s a simple one-handed gesture someone can use, without leaving a digital trace, to communicate they need someone to safely check in and support them.
If you see the Signal for Help:
1. Reach out to the person safely.
2. Be supportive: acknowledge their experience, listen, and let them tell you what they need.
3. Refer them to services or offer resources, as needed.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services (police, fire, ambulance).
Other FAQs
This project has been funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada.
Help Stop Rising Risk of Violence
Support women and girls experiencing violence to find safety today and into the future.