Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 63 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). The Signal for Help is a powerful tool that can make a life-saving difference to those facing domestic violence or gender-based violence. This gesture acts as a discreet safety signal or emergency signal that can be used in various situations to indicate that someone should check in with you. By spreading awareness of the Signal for Help and learning how to respond to it, we can all play a part in creating safer communities and supporting survivors. Together, we can change the culture around domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and gender-based violence. You can take action by becoming a Signal for Help Responder and spreading the word about this safety signal through your social media channels, workplace and community groups. Some Ways You Can Check in Safely 1. Call them and ask questions that can be answered with “yes” or “no”. For example: “Would you like me to call 911?” “Would you like me to call a shelter on your behalf?” (Find a shelter in your community) “Should I look for some services that might help you and call you back?” (Find some services you can reach out to.) 2. Use another form of communication such as text, social media, WhatsApp, or email and ask general questions. This may reduce risk if someone is watching the person’s device or accounts. For example, you can ask: “How are you doing?” “How can I help you out?” “Get in touch with me when you can.” 3. Other questions you can ask: “Do you want to reach out to you regularly?” “How else can I support you?” Get Help If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services (police, fire, ambulance). There are many services across Canada, and by province/territory, that can help someone being abused, including shelters, crisis lines, and counselling services. Many are free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Many can provide help in many different languages. You can also look for other places to get help in your community using Google search. Try search terms like “crisis line”, “domestic violence”, or “women’s shelter near me”. 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. continued
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