Top doc calls family violence ‘staggering’

TORONTO — Physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and murder — family violence is a pervasive but often hidden reality within Canadian society, says the country’s top doctor, who calls the scope of the problem “staggering.”

“This is a serious public health issue in Canada, one that can have long-lasting and widespread effects on the health of individuals, families and communities,” said Dr. Gregory Taylor, who on Friday released a 60-page report focusing on family violence.

“The health impacts of family violence extend far beyond physical injuries and include poor mental health, psychological and emotional distress, suicide, and increased risk of chronic diseases and conditions such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.”

In 2014, the latest year for which statistics are available, almost 58,000 girls and women were victims of family violence, said Taylor, Canada’s chief public health officer.

Every four days, one woman in Canada was killed by a family member; every six days, a woman was killed by an intimate partner. A man was murdered by a partner every 23 days.

“There’s no question that women bear the brunt of the most severe forms of family violence,” he said. “But men and boys are certainly victims as well.” Some other findings in the report:

Every day, about 230 Canadians reported being victims of family violence.

Between 2004-14, half of the child victims of family-related homicide were under age four.

About 760,000 Canadians reported experiencing unhealthy spousal conflict, abuse or violence in the previous five years.

Every day, eight seniors were subject to family violence. More than 766,000 Canadians over age 55 said they had experienced abuse or neglect in the previous year.

“When I started to research this report, I really had no idea how big the impact was,” Taylor said Friday from Ottawa.

“The estimates are that fully 70 per cent of family violence is unreported, so we’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg.”

Nora Spinks, CEO of the Vanier Institute of the Family, said domestic and family violence has always existed. The issue isn’t new.

“What is new is that we’re documenting it more, we’re aware of it more and we’re talking about it more,” said Spinks, speculating that family stress is likely one of the causes behind acts of domestic abuse.

“Families are under enormous financial stress these days. Families are under stress because of the precariousness of our employment, because of demands related to caregiving, not being able to find a support for the family,” she said from Ottawa.

Taylor’s report found that familial violence is particularly rife among Canada’s aboriginal peoples, whose multi-generational experiences of colonization, assimilation and racism have led to widespread substance abuse, poverty and despair in many communities.

People with physical disabilities or mental health conditions, as well as members of the LGBTQ community, also experience higher rates of familial and partner violence.