The BRAVE Model
Most people tell a friend before they tell anyone else that they have been sexually harassed or assaulted. The BRAVE Model© is five simple steps to respond with care.
When a friend tells you they’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted, it’s normal to be unsure of how to respond. The BRAVE Model© exists because that moment matters, and you deserve to be ready for it.
Your friends need you to be BRAVE
A new BRAVE resource is coming September 2026
Possibility Seeds has received funding from the Ontario government to build an interactive learning resource for youth and educators about supporting a peer when they disclose sexual harassment or assault. Built with and for Ontario youth, it gives you the information and skills to be there for a friend.
The Be BRAVE learning resource is free, self-paced, and designed with and for young people. You'll work through real scenarios, build your skills and leave knowing exactly how to show up for a friend. Including:
What to say (and what not to say) when a friend discloses
How to support someone without taking over their story
How to look after yourself while showing up for others
"Healing from sexual violence is a long journey, but it doesn't have to be a lonely one."
- Farrah Khan, M.S.W., R.S.W.
This is how we take care of each other
The BRAVE Model© was created in 1998 by educator, survivor and advocate Farrah Khan. It started as part of a zine she created for concerts and community events about sexual assault.
It grew into something bigger. Today, it’s a trauma-informed framework used across Canada with campus communities, youth programs, unions, and government agencies.