Some thoughtful analysis of the impact of the pandemic on domestic violence rates in NS from Transition House Association of Nova Scotia.
CBC: The hidden horror of police domestic violence in Nova Scotia
"In general, women are afraid of not being believed and not having their cases taken seriously and that's taken to a whole other level when the abuser is part of the system a victim is supposed to be reporting to," said Geiger-Bardswich.
Research done in the United States suggests that officers are actually more likely to abuse their domestic partners than the general public, said Nicholas Bala, a professor of family law at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. He said there hasn't been enough research done in Canada to determine if that's the case here.
EDITORIAL: Dark times on homefront due to domestic violence upsurge
“If you add something as extraordinary as a global pandemic and then have the kind of economic insecurities that happen — another huge factor around amplifying domestic violence — it’s a perfect storm of being trapped with the abuser, not being able to use the normal mechanisms that women do to keep themselves and their children safe, economic insecurity and certainly the fact that the abuser is there 24/7,” Jenny Wright, a member of the expert advisory committee with the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability, said in April.
Almost one-third of Canadian adults have experienced child abuse
Almost one-third of adults in Canada have experienced child abuse — physical abuse, sexual abuse or exposure to intimate partner (parents, step-parents or guardians) violence in their home. As well, child abuse is linked to mental disorders and suicidal ideation (thoughts) or suicide attempts, research shows.