Isolation and "Intimate Terrorism"
​Kayla Baugh, Safe Haven Community Outreach Team

​Another public health crisis that is in the shadows of COVID 19 is Family Violence. Mounting data suggests that family violence is acting like an opportunistic infection with the new movement restrictions put in place to stop the spread of the virus. Abusive behaviors are more frequent, more severe, and easier to hide.

​With families in isolation worldwide, help lines are seeing a significant increase in calls and abuse reports. CBC reports ​Kids Help Phone has seen an increase of 350% with incoming calls from young people. Support centers and shelters are all dealing with the same heartbreaking problem: how to help someone be safe when they have been told to isolate at home but their home is not safe. When we add in the complexity of children, confined or small spaces like apartments, and the financial stress from unemployment or job loss, then take away the social and daily interactions outside of the home, that is the perfect storm for intimate terrorism. Domestic abuse is about power and control, something an abuser has more of when victims are forced to isolate at home.

Right now, more than ever, victims are having to rely on their neighbors, children's teachers, grocery store clerks, or friends and family, to be the front line workers for family violence. We encourage you to educate yourself during this time. Check out Alberta Council of Women's Shelters page for Public Awareness Tools ​or take a look at Safe Haven's Active Bystander page for signs of family violence or things you can do to help. Another great resources is the myPlan app. It is an undetectable tool to help with safety decisions if you, or someone you care about, is experiencing abuse in their relationship. 
(Disclaimer - Using and storing your information electronically may not always be safe. Ensure that you are not putting yourself at risk by using myPlan) 

​​If you are someone you know is experiencing abuse, please call our 24/7 Crisis Line (403) 223-0483 for more information. If you are not able to make a private call during this time, please contact us using our web page via email.

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 Check out these great resources from The Learning Network  

Violence in a Pandemic

Supporting Women

Keeping Children Safe

​SAFE HAVEN HOPES TO SUPPORT, EMPOWER, AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES AGAINST ABUSE.

Safe Haven Women's Shelter Society is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to helping women and children in crisis. Our goal is to provide a safe place for women and children in an effort to end domestic violence and abuse. ​​ ​​

However, Safe Haven is more than a shelter. From a trauma-informed approach, we use a community-based response to bring together health, education, criminal justice, law enforcement, and community agencies in providing direct services. ​​

​Through Outreach Case Work, emotional support, and Public Education programming, we help people to learn that the after-effects of violence are understandable responses to traumatic experiences. ​

​Safe Haven is striving to end the cycle of abuse through the delivery of inclusive, non-judgmental support services to individuals, families and communities.

​24/7 access to emotional support, resources, and inquiries.
​Reach out for yourself, or for guidance helping someone else.

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