Isolating adds to perils for women living with abuse

The need for social distancing and isolation to stop the spread of COVID-19 means vulnerable women in dangerous situations, who are already isolated by their abusers, are feeling the effects, say advocates.

“I fear that is the case,” says Keri Lewis, executive director of Interval House, an emergency shelter for women and their children fleeing violence.

“If people are following the requirements and regulations to stay indoors and to only go out for essential items, then there really are no interactions with others who might notice signs of abuse.”

Women in abusive homes or relationships, in a time before COVID-19 measures, may have had opportunities to interact with people at work, at school, or when dropping their kids off at daycare.

“But with all of those things closed down it really limits the potential interactions that women in dangerous situations might have on a regular basis,” Lewis says. “In fact, it might limit those interactions completely.”

The shelter provides on-site support services such as counselling or safety planning in domestic violence situations. It also has a transition worker and operates a 24-hour crisis line.

Calls to the crisis line have decreased recently, which is a concern to staff as it could mean people are assuming services are closed, which isn’t true. But more worrisome is that it’s increasingly dangerous for women to call.

“Most women who call us will actually go to a neighbour’s house, go to a friend’s house, or go to a mall, or call us from work. They don’t call when they’re in their home with their abuser next to them,” Lewis says.

Yvonne Harding is the manager of resource development for the Assaulted Women’s Helpline, a provincial 24-hour crisis line that receives more than 49,000 calls annually. Harding says the volume of calls has been steady.

“What we’re seeing is ... more fear, more anxiety and an uptick in the physical abuse that some women are experiencing now that they’re in isolation in many cases with their abusers,” Harding says.

Ottawa police Insp. Jim Elves, who oversees both the partner assault and sexual assault and child abuse units, says that in the last week there has been an eightper-cent increase in 911 calls reporting domestic disputes over this time last year.

Police are appealing to neighbours who may hear or see something that they think is suspicious and an emergency to call police at 911.

“The public’s our eyes and ears,” Elves says.

Any emergencies can be reporter to Ottawa police through 911. Non-emergencies can be phoned in at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300. SYogaretnam@postmedia.com