IT
CAN
HAPPEN
TO
YOUR
IT
CAN
HAPPEN
TO
YOUR
friend
sister
brother
girlfriend
boyfriend
aunt
uncle
cousin
mom
dad
daughter
son
or
partner
Facts About Male Sexual Assault & Abuse
1 in 6 Men
At least 1 in 6 men are survivors of sexual abuse, which significantly increases the risk of victimization later in life.
LEARN MOREMilitary Sexual Misconduct
Reports of sexual misconduct involving male victims in the Canadian military have risen, now making up nearly half of the 1,431 new cases in 2022-2023.
This is a significant increase from previous years when the male victims made up about one-third of cases.
LEARN MORE29% of Men
Overall, 29% of men have experienced some form of sexual abuse in their lifetime with 24% experiencing abuse before 18.
LEARN MORESextortion Disproportionately Affects Boys & Young Men
With a 150% increase in cases reported from December 2021 to May 2022. Of the cases where gender was known, 83% of victims were male, mainly aged 15–17.
While females are more often coerced for additional nude images, males are typically extorted for money. Between 2015–2019, 4.2% of boys aged 15–17 reported having an embarrassing photo shared, compared to 2.2% of girls.
LEARN MOREResources for male survivors in BC
BC Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse
Individual therapy, group therapy and victim services.
Men’s Therapy Centre
One to one counselling, group counselling and Victim Services.
VictimLinkBC
Multilingual, confidential telephone service available across BC, 24/7, that provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence.
Hope for Wellness Helpline
Available to all Indigenous people across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are reachable by telephone and online ‘chat’ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How to Support Male Survivors
Male survivors of sexual assault and abuse often face challenges, including stigma, silence, and disbelief. As an ally, your support can make a powerful difference.
Here’s how you can help:
Listen Without Judgment
Believe their story. Avoid questioning or minimizing their experience. Your role is to listen, not to investigate or solve.
Request Their Pace
Healing looks different for everyone. Let the survivor guide conversations about their experience and respect their boundaries.
Challenge Myths
Speak up against harmful stereotypes like “men can’t be victims” or “men should be able to defend themselves.” These myths isolate survivors and deepen their pain.
Encourage Support
Let them know that seeking help, whether through counselling, peer groups, or trusted networks, is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Be Patient and Present
Sometimes just being there, consistently and without pressure can offer the safety and trust they need to heal.
Trail Association for Community Living
Trail Association for Community Living (TACL) is committed to providing service and support to members of our community with significant barriers. We encourage all individuals to maximize their strengths while living and working interdependently within the community.
The Association advocates on behalf of individuals with significant barriers to enhance the quality of life, public understanding and community acceptance.
LEARN MOREThis campaign is proudly part of Victims and Survivors of Crime Week 2025 • Sponsored by the Department of Justice Canada.