Get Support
Get Support
If you have been affected by sexual violence or gender-based violence, know it is not your fault.
Consent Comes First is here for you. We work with TMU students to connect to services, help think through options for safety and healing, and create a space on campus to take a breath. Whether the harm took place while you were a student or before, in-person or online, on campus or off, we are here to listen and support.
You are not alone. Get in touch with Consent Comes First.
osvse@torontomu.ca
“She made me aware of all my options by clearly explaining each scenario and what could potentially happen as a result, all while maintaining my privacy. She also respected my choices when it came to choosing whether or not to report my assault. I was extremely fearful of seeing my attacker but she made me feel safe by offering me different resources like checking class schedules for conflicts, providing me with safe spaces to be in, and just offering continuous support. I really am so grateful."
Consent Comes First Service User
Tell Yourself
Sometimes the first person we need to tell is ourselves. Too often we can convince ourselves that it wasn’t “so bad”, that we can “handle it” or that it was somehow our fault.
Share with Someone
Share with someone you trust. This is never easy but consider sharing with a friend, a family member, an instructor, a coach, or your residence advisor. Let them know what you need.
Seek Medical Care
Seek medical care for recent cases of sexual assault. Even if there are no obvious injuries or you don’t want to report the assault to the police, it is important to seek medical attention if the assault happened recently. We can help you with that process, even accompanying you to a health care provider.
Connect with CCF
Connect with Consent Comes First staff. We are here to listen to you, and will help you access resources and make an informed decision about next steps, if and when you choose to. Some of the ways our team can support you are listed below.
How Consent Comes First Can Support You
Academic Considerations
- Support students in seeking extensions and other academic solutions
- Work with students to create academic plans that fit their needs
- Connect students with appropriate academic supports and offices
- Seek additional academic solutions
Reporting & Legal Support
- Understanding the reporting options available to you
- Support students in filing police reports
- Accompany students to court
- Connect students with lawyers, organizations, and advocates
- Support students in building claims packages, such as Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB)
- Navigate civil and criminal justice systems, and workplace policies and legislation, such as Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
Health Advocacy
- Accompany students to medical appointments
- Support students in finding appropriate specialists and clinics
- Refer and accompany students to STI testing services
- Write support letters
Emotional Support
- Connecting to financial support
- Exploring self-care resources
- Coordinating translation and interpretation support
- Providing communication support (ghostwritten emails, brainstorming how to have difficult conversations, responding to harassment)
Safety & Security
- Connecting to housing services
- Connecting to financial support
- Providing safety planning (online, physical, emotional)
Workplace Accommodations
- Supporting students in part-time staff roles or on experiential learning placements in seeking time off, utilizing domestic and medical leave
- Supporting students in part-time staff roles or on experiential learning placements in requesting specific workplace accommodations
- Safety-planning with students in part-time staff roles or on experiential learning placements
Confidentiality Within Our Office
Confidentiality is essential in making you feel safe when seeking support. Before you disclose, you have the right to ask the person about the level of confidentiality you can expect.
All discussions with the Consent Comes First office are confidential, however, there are times when we are obligated to share information, including:
- If an individual discloses that a child (under 16 years old) is at risk of emotional and/or physical neglect or emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse, we are required by law to report this to the Children’s Aid Society.
- If an individual discloses imminent risk of physically harming self or others.
- If an individual discloses sexually inappropriate behaviour by another health professional and their name is provided, we are required to report this to their regulatory body.
- When court ordered.
- If an individual discloses that they have been sexually assaulted or harassed by a Toronto Metropolitan faculty member or staff person.
- If an individual discloses that there is evidence of sexual violence in a public realm (ie. a video posted on social media).
If any of these situations apply to you, you will be supported at every step of the process. At any point, you have the right to clarify the boundaries of the Consent Comes First staff’s confidentiality.
Maintenance of Statistics
Our office maintains annual statistics on both disclosed and reported incidents of sexual violence on campus. The data does not include any information that would identify you We do this for the purposes of community education and required legislated reporting.