Healthy Relationships

We all deserve relationships that make us feel safe, happy, and respected. Below are some simple signs to help you see when your relationships; whether sexual, non-sexual, with yourself, or with others, are healthy or when they need more care.

Signs of Healthy Relationships

• We feel good in our minds and our bodies, in ways that work for us.
• We can speak up about worries and feel safe doing it.
• We get to choose any closeness or sex with a clear, excited yes.
• Our identities and bodies are seen, respected, and valued.
  

Signs of Unhealthy Patterns

• Someone does not respect who we are or parts of our identity.
• They put us down and say insults are just jokes.
• We feel unsafe or scared, in our feelings or in our bodies.
• They act in wild or angry ways and blame us instead of owning up.
  

People are complicated. We might act in healthy or unhealthy ways for lots of reasons, like our past or what is happening around us. We are all learning and growing.

Here are some additional resources:

• RAINN, What Consent Looks Like 
• SEICCAN – Consent
• Gov of Canada,  Sexual Violence and Consent 
• Gov of Canada – Age of Consent for Sexual Activity

If you often feel afraid or in danger, get help right away.