Photo 158418912 © Tero Vesalainen | Dreamstime.com

By Tiffany Goodwein

Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society launches text line and web chat service

Jun 3, 2022 | 2:38 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- When a women is in an abusive situation, sometimes picking up the phone, and calling for help, isn’t such an easy task, especially if the abuser is living inside the woman’s home. Now, the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter has launched a new text and web chat service aimed at ensuring more women can access the services they need.

From 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. people can contact a crisis intervention staff member by texting 587-850-5885 or by visiting the web chat on the shelter’s website.

Executive director Natasha Carvalho said a web and text based service is something their organization has been looking into for some time, and the need really came to light during COVID-19.

” What we really realized during COVID-19, when people were told to stay at home, is that women couldn’t call because their partner or abuser was at home with them. They could maybe hide in the garage and text on their phone, without alerting anyone but it wasn’t easy to have an actual in person conversation,” she said.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

16h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

Carvalho said the new service would also reach teenagers and young people more readily as texting is a more prominent way of communication.

Last year the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter provided support to 1,121 adults and 343 children. The shelter also received 1,537 crisis calls.