Relationship Abuse
We all have many kinds of relationships - with family, friends, partners, and people in the community.
Relationships and experiences help to shape who you are. Healthy relationships and experiences build you up, make you feel safe, happy, capable and truly cared for. Unhealthy relationships and experiences can leave you feeling scared, betrayed, cheap, small and unsure of yourself.
What is relationship abuse?
Abuse includes things like intimidation or threats, name-calling, criticism, pushing or shoving, control over your income, where you go or who you see, forced sexual activity, disregard for your spiritual beliefs, and if you rely on others for your daily care, it could mean withholding food, medication or even a regular bath.
Calgary is home to Connect Family and Sexual Abuse Network - we’re here to help if your gut says something in your relationship isn’t quite right. We’re not here to make judgments or tell you what to do. We are here to help YOU decide what’s healthy and what’s not. And to help you find what you need – at your own pace – and confidentially.
Signs of relationship abuse
Four out of ten people in Calgary are, or have been, in relationships that are abusive or show signs of abuse. Click here for some of the many warning signs of abuse.
You Are Not Alone – Stories of Relationship Abuse
If you’ve experienced an abusive relationship, you’re not alone. Click here for some stories about people who’ve experienced abusive relationships. Do you see any similarities in your own relationships?
We understand that sometimes getting the help you need can be scary, embarrassing or just confusing. But Connect is none of those things. We’re a friendly, easy confidential service that helps you — or someone you know — find the support you need. It’s for anyone who needs help and the people who care about them.
Four out of ten people we surveyed are, or have been in, relationships that are abusive or show signs of abuse.
This measurement was derived from 451 online interviews with Calgarians aged 16 to 69 years old. Respondents were randomly selected from a Leger Marketing online panel. There was an equal balance of male/female respondents and a balanced representation from all quadrants of the city. Respondents were presented with eight potential domestic abuse and violence scenarios and were asked to rate their relationship with their current spouse, partner, girlfriend and boyfriend against the scenarios presented. It is important to note that this is not a clinical study. The scenarios do not represent every type of healthy or unhealthy relationship and respondents will interpret each of the situations differently.
The scenarios utilized in the domestic violence survey were adapted from “How Can I Tell if my Relationship is Healthy, Unhealthy or Abusive?” in Alberta Children and Youth Services. (2008) Women Abused in Intimate Relationships, Edmonton, AB. Retrieved from http://www.child.gov.ab.ca/home/documents/familyviolence/doc_opfvb_booklet_women_colour.pdf
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