There is a lot of misinformation that can be found both in person and online. Navigate the tabs below to discover vetted resources that will give you factual and empowerment based information on sexual health and more.
Are you looking for something specific on our resource page and were unable to find it? Please reach out to us using our contact form and we will do our best to find and connect you with the resources you’ve requested.
Sexual Health Hotlines – You’ve got questions they’ve got answers
Action Canada Access Line – The access line is a 7-day a week free confidential phone and text line. It is available for questions about sexual health, pregnancy options, abortion and safer sex. The Access Line provides both information and referrals to sexual health providers. The Access line is open between 7:30am and 7:30pm EST. Call 1-888-642-2725 or text 613-800-6757 for answers.
Sex Sense – Sex Sense is a free, pro-choice, sex-positive, and confidential service. Contact Sex Sense to have your questions about sex, sexuality and many more topics answered by a member of their team of registered nurses, counsellors, and sex educators.
Awesome Sexual Health Websites – STI’s, birth control and much much more!
Action Canada is Planned Parenthood Canada. Action Canada has many resources birth control options, STI’s, your body, puberty and menstruation and much more can be found on their sexual health information hub.
Teen Health Source is Planned Parenthood Toronto. What sets the Teen Health Source apart is that their resources are made specifically for and by youth. They have well over 100 articles covering an incredibly wide array of topics.
Scarletteen is an American website that was created in 1998 and has thousands of pages of information about sex, sexual health and relationships for teens and young adults.
Sex & U is an initiative of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Sex & U provides accurate, credible, up-to-date information and education on topics related to sexual and reproductive health.
NOW Program – Abortion access and birth control for Northwest Territories and Kitikmeot region of Nunavut
NOW is a program dedicated to making providing reproductive choice and abortion services available to pregnant people in the Northwest Territories and the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut. You do not need a referral from a nurse / doctor OR parental consent to contact the NOW program. If you are outside of Yellowknife, the NOW program can arrange for medical travel to Yellowknife for your care.
The NOW Program can be reached at 1-888-873-5710. If you call, leave your name and a number where you can be reached, let them know if they can leave you a message. One of NOW’s staff will return your call with appointment instructions. They will not leave a message unless you have given them permission to do so. If someone else answers the phone, they will not identify themselves as the NOW program.
Opal Clinic – Abortion access and birth control in the Yukon
The Opal Clinic The provides confidential care for medication abortions, surgical abortions, miscarriage treatment and IUD insertion by referral. You do not need a referral from a nurse / doctor OR parental consent to contact the the Opal Clinic. If you live in Whitehorse, you can call to book your own appointment. If you live in Watson Lake or Dawson City you can make an appointment with one of the doctors there to review your options. They may be able to provide medication abortion or refer you to the Opal Clinic. If you live in a community with a health center, you can see a nurse to confirm your pregnancy and they can refer you to the Opal Clinic and help you make travel arrangements. Regardless of which community you reside in, you also have the option of calling the Opal Clinic and referring yourself.
The Opal Clinic can be reached at at 1-867-393-6635. If you get the answering machine leave a message and you should get a call back within two days. Be sure to call about your appointment yourself as they will have questions about your medical history that only you can answer.
Canada wide crisis helplines
Kids Help Phone – Call 1-800-668-6868 to be connected with a professional counsellor. Text CONNECT to 686868 for support from a volunteer. Indigenous people can connect with an Indigenous volunteer crisis responder, when available, by messaging FIRST NATIONS, INUIT or METIS to 686868 for young people and 741741 for adults (no data plan, internet connection, or app required). Hours of operation open 24/7 365 days a year.
Hope For Wellness Is a helpline available for all Indigenous people in Canada. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are available 24/7 at 1-855-242-3310 and by chat. Services are available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway (Anishinaabemowin) and Inuktitut. Support in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut is not offered 24/7 so you may want to call ahead and confirm that a language speaker is available.
Nunavut crisis helplines
Healing by talking – Free telephone counselling by the GN’s Department of Health. Call 1 888-648-0070 or email healing@gov.nu.ca.
Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line – Anonymous and confidential telephone support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 1 800-265-3333 or in Iqaluit 979-3333. Open 24 a day 7 days a week.
Kamatsiaqtut Helpline – A toll-free helpline that is anonymous, confidential, and staffed by trained volunteers. Available 24/7 in Inuktitut and English. Call 867-979-3333 or 1-800-265-3333.
Specific resources:
Self-Injury – If you are a youth who is struggling with Self Injury the Cornell University Self-Injury and Recovery website offers many resources and strategies including how to navigate difficult feelings, alternate strategies to self-injury, a guide to having conversation with friends and family and much more. There are also resources available for those supporting people who are struggling with self-injury.
Accessing Health Care as 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth
I ❤️ My Chest – A chest health resource for trans folks.
The Primary Care Resource – Trans and gender diverse people can bring this resource with them to the doctors office to provide practitioners with links to resources on how to offer affirming care and further reading on related best practices.
Trans Non-Binary Health – While not everything here will be relevant to people in the North, you can learn about hormonal, surgical, social, legal transition, and more.
Local Ressources
Northern Mosaic Network – Offers supports and community for 2SLGBTQIPA+ Northerners and their allies from the Northwest Territories. The Northern Mosaic Network has supports and resources available on their website. In addition, they offer in house programming at Rainbow Youth Center including drop-in hours, a community closet with gender affirming garments, take home resources and much more.
Queer Yukon – Began as a grassroots organization and began offering year round support in 2020. They accomplish their vision of supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in the Yukon through advocacy, facilitating connection, and creating welcoming and safe spaces. They offer a number of programs including three drop in spaces located in Whitehorse, Dawson City, and Watson Lake. Some of their initiatives include: providing gender affirming gear, peer support groups, training and education modules, a one time grant for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals experiencing housing insecurity and more.
Your body your choice – What’s a mature minor?
In Canada, youth under the age of majority can make decisions about their health care without needing parental consent when a medical professional believes that the youth
a. the minor is capable of understanding the nature and consequences of a medical treatment, and
b. the medical treatment and the procedures to be used is in the best in the best interests of the minor and their continuing health and well-being
Information above obtained by Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Children’s Participatory Rights in Canada.
This means that youth who meet the above criteria have the legal right to make decisions about their health care and sexual and reproductive health including the following: obtaining birth control, STI testing, abortion access, etc.
The Youth Bill of Rights – What am I entitled to when I see a healthcare provider?
The Action Canada National Youth Advisory Board developed the Youth Bill of Rights resource. The NYAB’s Youth Bill of Rights outlines the right to Non-Discrimination and Respect, Confidentiality and Information, Choose and Refuse and Reporting and Accountability.
Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act – Will I get in trouble if I call for help?
Someone overdosing from drugs or alcohol is a scary situation and you shouldn’t be worried about calling for help. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act offers some protection for you or other people at the scene from being charged for having or using drugs if you are calling for help about an overdose. Take a look at this poster for more details on the Good Samaritan Act.
Alcohol Poisoning – Know the signs
Are You Okay? – Do you know the difference between someone being drunk and alcohol poisoning/overdose? Knowing the signs of overdose can save a life. Learn more about alcohol poisoning.