Countering the misconceptions around family violence is part of the job for local THRIVE outreach mentor, Carrie Somerville.
The program provides access to confidential support for locals affected by relationship abuse. November is Family Violence Prevention Month, and alongside the Athabasca and Area Prevention of Relationship Abuse Action Committee (PRAAC), Somerville has been spreading awareness about the problem.
Somerville said a common perception is that relationship abuse requires physicality. However, she said that is not true.
“The range of abusive behaviour is not just physical. It also includes sexual, verbal, psychological, emotional, spiritual and financial abuse,” Somerville said. “Often, the perception, people think ‘Oh, if there’s no hitting, it’s not violence.’ And that’s just not the case.”
This lack of recognition can cause relationship abuse to go unaddressed in some cases, Somerville said.
“The problem then is people get missed. They don’t get the help that they need,” she said. “Those other types of abuse can be just as impactful on a person’s health and wellbeing as physical.”
Relationship abuse is often more prevalent in rural areas, Somerville said, adding that rural women are twice as likely than urban counterparts to be victims of relationship abuse.
She cited isolation and small town gossip as reasons for this gap between rural and urban women.
“You might have somebody who lives way far out of town and if they don’t have access to a vehicle, they can become really, really isolated,” Somerville said. “Or if somebody knows everybody in town, and everybody in town knows their family, they might really keep it a secret. Because in small towns, you worry about gossip and how that’s going to impact you.”
PRAAC has highlighted Family Violence Prevention Month by placing six wooden candles throughout town, with stories of victims of relationship abuse posted on the candles.
PRAAC member Tamara Yurchak said relationship abuse affects every community. She added that the THRIVE program offers good support for people dealing with abusive relationships.
“(Somerville) provides that confidential support for people, information and education on the different types of abuse,” Yurchak said. “(She) design(s) practical safety plans for clients. Also referrals, just a network with other agencies in town, so if they need something, we can put them in the right direction.”
Somerville said she has had good experiences working with local law enforcement on matters of family violence. However, she added an improvement to the legal system would include better accommodation for protection orders in abuse cases that are not necessarily physical.
“Unless they are physically abusive, it’s really hard to get that protection order,” Somerville said, adding that first responders really need to notice and be aware of signs of abuse “other than just physical marks on someone.”
“That’s really where people struggle. They might be in a really dangerous situation, but if someone’s never hit them, its hard to get protection,” she added.
