The Signal for Help (or the Violence at Home Signal for Help) is a single-handed

gesture A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication or non-vocal communication in which visible bodily actions communicate particular messages, either in place of, or in conjunction with, speech. Gestures include movement of the hands, face, or ot ...

that can be used over a video call or in person by an individual to alert others that they feel threatened and need help. Originally, the signal was created as a tool to combat the rise in

domestic violence Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner ...

cases around the world linked to self-isolation measures that were related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The signal is performed by holding one hand up with the thumb tucked into the palm, then folding the four other fingers down, symbolically trapping the thumb by the rest of the fingers. It was designed intentionally as a single continuous hand movement, rather than a sign held in one position, so it could be made easily visible. The Signal for Help was created by the

Canadian Women's Foundation The Canadian Women's Foundation (''French: Fondation Canadienne des Femmes'') is a national non-profit organization focused on helping women and girls. It aims to end violence against women, move low-income women out of poverty, and empower girls. ...

and introduced on April 14, 2020. It soon spread via the TikTok social video platform and was adopted by the international Women's Funding Network (WFN). It received widespread praise from Canadian and international news organizations for helping provide a modern solution to the issue of a rise in domestic violence cases. Addressing concerns that abusers may become aware of such a widespread online initiative, the

and other organizations clarified that this signal is not "something that's going to save the day", but rather, a tool someone could use to get help. The campaign intends the signal to mean "reach out to me safely", and advises that if someone sees a person using the signal on a video call, they should contact the signaler by another means (such as a text message or email) to ask them what they need. The campaign recommends that contacting emergency services should only be done if signaler explicitly requests this. Asking yes-no questions will reduce risk and make it easier for them to respond.

References

{{Reflist Domestic violence Hand gestures Sign language