Steep rise in family violence calls

Calls for help to a Christchurch domestic violence agency have increased by

34 per cent since the level four lockdown started.

Family violence agency Aviva (previously Women’s Refuge) had 119 calls to its 24-hour support line since March

23, up from a monthly average of 89. However, Aviva general manager, operations, Gwenda Kendrew said the agency’s biggest concern was unreported cases where people were continuing to live with family violence and experiencing sexual assault.

People in those situations should call police or an agency such as Aviva, or leave: ‘‘If not safe to do so, they should tell someone, friends, family, neighbours who may be able to help.’’

In one case, a family of five was relocated after a violent incident. They had been living with relatives, sharing one bedroom, and tension escalated.

‘‘We were stressed, under pressure. It was an intense situation,’’ one of the family members said. A single violent incident caused them to call police and reach out to Aviva for support.

Within a few hours, an Aviva support worker had organised emergency accommodation and co-ordinated with SPCA to take their pets.

Other callers included a woman whose daughter was assaulted and a man calling from his car for help to stop himself from hurting his partner.

Similar increases in demand for the service had occurred after the Christchurch earthquakes and the mosque attacks last year. In both cases there had been ongoing, related stresses, Kendrew said.

‘‘In previous experiences we did note a significant increase in calls to us as the ‘event’ passed and the ongoing pressures continued to bring stresses . . . such as loss of employment or income and mental health challenges. We expect the same [following the coronavirus lockdown].’’

Despite the increased demand, Aviva was expecting a 30 per cent drop in donations this year because planned fundraising events had to be cancelled or postponed, Kendrew said.

The agency has launched a Covid-19 emergency appeal that has raised nearly $35,000. The goal is $70,000 – the amount expected to be raised in three events by the end of the financial year.

The service received additional funding from Government agencies to enable the service to continue ‘‘to function’’ with the increased demand.

An Aviva support worker who did not want to be named said the lockdown had created increased stress for many clients.

Government and non-government services usually available for mental health illness, addiction and poverty had been limited to phone-only support, or by an inability to meet rising demand.

‘‘Aviva’s purpose is to be available in each and every way possible and support people in keeping themselves safe.’’