If you're in danger right now
Call your local emergency line. In the United States and Canada, dial 911. In the UK, dial 999. In Australia, dial 000.
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Browsing safely
- Use a private / incognito window so this site doesn't show in browser history.
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Crisis lines
Jump to your region, or open a section to see its numbers — so you reach the right one fast.
Australia · 2 lines
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1800RESPECT
Call 1800 737 732National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling.
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Lifeline
Call 13 11 14Text 0477 13 11 1424/7 crisis support.
Canada · 3 lines
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Assaulted Women's Helpline (ON)
Call 1-866-863-051124/7, multilingual. Texts: #SAFE (#7233) from Bell/Rogers/Fido/Telus.
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ShelterSafe
Interactive map of women's shelters across Canada.
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Talk Suicide Canada
Call 1-833-456-4566Text 4564524/7 phone; text 45645 between 4 PM and midnight ET.
United Kingdom · 2 lines
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Refuge — National Domestic Abuse
Call 0808 2000 247Free, 24-hour, women's aid helpline.
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Samaritans
Call 116 123Free, 24/7.
United States · 3 lines
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National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-7233Text START to 88788Free, confidential, 24/7. Live chat on the website.
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RAINN (sexual assault)
Call 1-800-656-467324/7 hotline and online chat.
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988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call 988Text 988For anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
A short safety-planning checklist
- Pack a "go bag" with ID, cash, medications, phone charger, a change of clothes, and any documents for the kids. Hide it at a trusted friend's place if home isn't safe.
- Memorise two phone numbers — phones get taken or break. A friend and one of the hotlines above.
- Open a separate bank account the other person doesn't know about, even with just $50. Use a P.O. box for statements.
- Tell one trusted person what's happening. Agree on a code word that means "call the police."
- Document the abuse safely — photos, notes with dates, screenshots. Keep them in a private cloud account, not the family laptop.
- If you have kids, tell their school or daycare who is and isn't allowed to pick them up. Schools take this seriously.
Talk to people who get it
Our Leaving safely forum is monitored for safety. You can post anonymously — display your DivorceMaybe handle, not your real name.
Looking for a counselor or lawyer who handles abuse cases? Many offer free first consultations. Search counselors or search lawyers.
Once you're physically safe, the recovery work begins — see our therapy & trauma guide for what kinds of therapy help with what.