Healthy Relationships
Healthy relationships, of all kinds, are a big part of our overall well-being and health. Unfortunately, many of us have become accustomed to being treated poorly in one or several of our relationships. We hope you find useful information on this page about what makes a healthy relationship, including resources to support those who are struggling with their current relationships.
Topics on this page
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships
Everyone deserves healthy relationships regardless of age, gender identity and sexual orientation. Learn the signs of a healthy and mature relationship and those of an unhealthy relationship. Download this bookmark for your own reference, share with a friend who may need support, or as a conversation starter with your teenager. Teachers and counsellors are also welcome to share it with their junior high and high school students.
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships Bookmark
Online Safety
Many young people find positive connections and meaningful spaces in the online world, but there are risks that youth need to be aware of to stay safe. Kids need to be careful about what they share and who they share it with.
Our short video series on online safety provides helpful resources and info to help children navigate the online world in a way that’s safe for everyone.
Watch Online Safety Video Series
Talking to Your Children About Consent
We want our children to respect other people’s boundaries and we want them to have their boundaries respected in turn. For that to happen, we need young people to understand what consent is, how to assert their boundaries and how to navigate relationships. Our series of consent videos provide information on how to address consent with different aged children.
Supporting a Friend, Child or Family Member
When helping a friend, your child or family member when you see red flags in a relationship, it is important to remember: do not blame a person for missing red flags. Abuse can happen to anyone. Express your concern gently and with compassion. Reinforce they are not alone.
Conversation starters could include:
- “Can we talk?”
- “I care about you and I have noticed....”
- “I am worried about...”
- “Would you consider talking to someone about this? I can help.”
If you or someone you know needs help, there is support:
- 24/7 Help: Call the Family Violence Info Line at 310-1818 or chat to get help anonymously in over 170 languages. #WhereToTurn
- Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.
- Call Alberta’s ONE LINE for Sexual Violence at 1-866-403-8000 or chat, from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., seven days a week, in over 200 languages.
Resources available Monday to Friday:
- SAiF (Stop Abuse in Families): 780-460-2195, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- St. Albert Family & Community Support Services: 780-459-1756, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Alberta 211 - Call 2-1-1, text INFO to 211, or access live chat (ab.211.ca) 24/7. 211 is a free, confidential service that connects residents to a wide range of community, social, health, and government services.
Find a complete list of resources available at:
If you have experienced, or are currently experiencing or witnessing violence or abuse, find additional resources at:
Learn More with the St. Albert Public Library
You can search online at St. Albert Public Library for books on this topic. Search words might include: consent, communications and healthy relationships.
Here’s how to focus a search:
- Type one or more words in the search box at the top of the page, and then click the Search button (the magnifying glass).
- The search results include items with all of the search terms in either the title or author fields, or in headings or tags.
- You can filter your search results by selecting from the headings on the left side of the page.
Learn how to get a free library card
Organizations, Coaches and Schools
Sports and recreation are incredible venues for fostering and nurturing pro-social values and for building character. We now know that the activities themselves don’t teach healthy, positive ideas. It’s the people and the culture within and around the activity that determine what the participants gain from their involvement. We also know that, across all sports, there have been words, actions and activities that have created harmful attitudes and behaviours.
The City of St Albert’s Family & Community Support Services has a gender-based Violence Prevention Specialist available to support your organization in thinking through how to address issues like sexual violence, consent, healthy masculinities and healthy relationships.
If your organization wants support around this issue, please contact Tuval Nafshi at tnafshi@stalbert.ca.
Related Pages
Last edited: October 23, 2023