Here are some lesser-known resources for victims of conjugal violence in Quebec

Since the start of the year, five Quebec women have died in suspected cases of intimate partner violence.

Police say there’s been a jump in reports of such violence in the past decade and resources say they are overwhelmed with calls for help. 

But there are more tools and help out there than you might think.

Sometimes, it can be hard to know when you are experiencing intimate partner violence. 

Advocates say abusers can be really adept at manipulating someone into thinking their behaviour is normal. 

“Because the partner will constantly feed you other stories about what's going on and force you to believe what they believe; and force you to adhere to their story, to their fiction, in a way,” says Claudine Thibaudeau, clinical co-ordinator with SOS violence conjugale.

SOS violence conjugale developed two questionnaires to help you determine if your partner’s behaviour is violent or coercive. 

“Together, these two tools will help someone to take a step back and gain a better understanding about what's going on in their relationship without any outside pressure,” Thibaudeau explained. 

If by the end of it, you’re still unsure, you can choose to continue with more questions or you can speak to someone who can help – by text, phone or email. 

SOS violence conjugale has other resources too, such as articles to help know if you’re being tracked by an AirTag or how to find a hidden camera. 

Knowing your rights is important and legal questions are not always easy to navigate, says Frédérick Roussel, executive director of Éducaloi. 

But there are places to help you make sense of them. 

“On our site, we have a lot of different resources that you can find to inform yourself. Because being informed is very important. It's a way to fight domestic violence,” Roussel says.  

Roussel also says you can call a special line at the DPCP, Quebec’s Crown prosecutors' office, and speak to a prosecutor who specializes in sexual offenses. They can walk you through how to place an official complaint and what rights you have.