Family Abuse Affects Everyone and is Preventable!

Submitted by Carol Quinlan, RN, BScN
Public Health Nurse, Injury and Family Abuse Prevention Program

• 1 in 4 women are abused at some point in their lives
  
  
• 1 in 6 men are abused at some point in their lives
  
  
• Family abuse occurs in 1 in 6 homes
  
  
• Family abuse is occurring in your community, in your neighbourhood, and possibly within your own extended family network
  
  
• It is everyone’s responsibility to become involved in working to prevent family abuse!

The Health Unit recognizes that abuse has become a more serious public health concern and therefore is committed to becoming actively involved in this issue.

In an effort to help raise awareness about this important issue, around 1600 posters were distributed across the region. The Health Unit sent messages out through local newspapers, radio and television. Response to this campaign was overwhelmingly positive from the schools, childcare providers, churches, health care providers and community service agencies.


Some other ways that the Health Unit is involved are:

• Work with local abuse prevention community coalitions.
  
  
• Assessment of cases, prevention models and treatment methods.
  
  
• Prenatal and postpartum screening of women for present and past experience of abuse.
  
  
• Screening of everyone who attends our clinics.
  
  
• Training for local physicians and other health care professionals and community service agencies.

An individual’s experience/exposure to abuse can affect his/her health in many different ways: physically, sexually, mentally, emotionally and psychologically. By identifying that an individual has experience with abuse, a nurse can provide treatment as well as information about the services and resources that are available locally for that person to access as needed. The Health Unit is doing its part to address abuse issues.