Sexual health resources

Your sexual health and wellbeing is just as import- ant as your mental or physical health. Here are some resources on campus to learn more about safe sex, or if you or anyone you know has experienced sexualized or gender-based violence, harassment or harm.

UBC Wellness Centre

The Wellness Centre offers in-person and online drop-in service where you can ask questions about sexual health resources, services and support options. You can also submit a question online and receive an email response within a few business days. Additionally, the Centre offers online courses on a variety of topics, including sexual health.

Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO)

Run by UBC, SVPRO provides confidential information and support for anyone considering or navigating reporting their experience of sexualized or gender-based violence, harassment or harm to the police or UBC. Here are some supports it offers, all centred around your individual needs:

  • It can help you find somewhere safe to stay on campus, from short-term housing to residence relocation. If need be, it can also help you look for longer-term safe housing. There are also options for off-campus students, including shelters and transition housing.
  • It can help arrange academic concessions for you, under UBC’s Academic Concession Policy, which includes compassionate grounds and/or medical circumstances.
  • It can help you navigate and access different systems for workplace support, leaves and accommodations. This includes temporary work reassignment, location reassignment, scheduling changes or even just medical or sick leave.
  • If, and only if, you wish to do so, it can help you learn about your options with regards to reporting the assault whether it be to UBC’s Investigations Office or the police.
  • It can help you seek medical help after sexualized violence, including hospital services, UBC Student Health Services (where you can get tested for pregnancy and STIs regardless of your situation), general practitioner services and walk-in clinic services. SVPRO staff members can even go with you to the hospital.

AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC)

SASC has been funded by the AMS since 2002, and provides education, support and empowerment to survivors of sexualized violence and their loved ones. SASC operates independently from UBC. Here are some supports it offers:

  • Its support and advocacy team offers confidential and non-judgemental emotional and short-term crisis support, as well as providing a list of various community and on-campus resources for you.
  • It can help you create an individualized safety plan that you can use during your daily life, or before, during or after leaving an unsafe environment or relationship.
  • It can help you navigate various institutional systems, including medical, legal or academic by offering advocacy and accompaniment services throughout.
  • It offers a Sexual Assault Service (SAS) for anyone 13 or older who has been sexually assaulted within the previous 7 days. The SAS services are free and confidential, and are located at UBC Urgent Care Centre and at VGH Emergency Department.
  • In addition to one-on-one support, the SASC also runs various support groups throughout the year that are both educational and personalized.

If you or anyone you know has experienced sexual assault of any kind and needs immediate support, the Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW) 24/7 crisis and information line at 604.255.6344 from the lower mainland, or 1.877.392.7583 elsewhere in Canada.