There's a boom in domestic violence in Canada
Helpline staff are sounding the alarm.
Experts say the second wave of the pandemic has caused a new surge in domestic violence cases in Canadian families. Canada operates a hotline for women who have experienced domestic abuse, and between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, staff received more than 20,000 calls. Last year, there were just over 12,000 calls during the same period.
"We are very concerned about the fact that so many women are now at risk," says Ivanne Harding, a member of the organization. — They used to be able to find some way out, but at lockdown everything is closed.
During the pandemic, some women cannot even leave their homes, such as taking their children to school. The ability to go to friends or relatives is also cut off. The hotline staff have had to work harder. They have also managed to get funding from the government.
According to Harding, the number of calls increased sharply immediately after the introduction of lockdowns in cities across the country. This fact was also noted by the police: the number of calls about domestic violence has recently increased by 12%.
Sergeant Julie Randall, who specialises in domestic violence cases, says violence is closely linked to mental health. She says the pandemic has had a huge impact on people's mental health.
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