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HE A LTH • Winter 2020 13 circulated by domestic violence organizations operating at the state and federal level, formed the backdrop for a sudden decrease in domestic violence hotline calls reported at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, when stay-at-home orders sent many people home, either temporarily or indefinitely. Some domestic violence organizations reported as much as a 50% decline in requests for services at the start of the pandemic, according to an April report by New York City publication The Guardian. An escalating issue Deborah Hall, director of domestic violence services at YWCA Central Massachusetts, said the decline was, indeed, noticeable in the Worcester area, when the initial economic lockdown began. "That made sense, at the time, because a lot of our participants and people who may have called us were sheltering in place with their abuser," Hall said. But, that dip was not sustained. Come June, when many businesses began to reopen, and when social distancing restrictions were loosened, calls for help increased, once again. And by the end of summer, she said, not only had calls increased, but the organization was fielding reports of increased and escalating violence. Around the same time, two murder-suicides were reported in the area – one in Worcester, and one in Gardner. "That put us all on alert in the DV world," Hall said. The agency, which switched to tele- advocacy at the start of the pandemic, which is to say providing services remotely, began to emphasize safety planning and helping to facilitate restraining orders. "People look at their situation again, and that they don't want that to be them," Hall said of the murder- suicides' impact. "And so sometimes, you will see an increase in calls after you've had a DV-related homicide." Moving forward Advocates interviewed for this story expressed concern about the upcoming holidays, and the ways which already stressful seasons, made more stressful by the coronavirus pandemic, may impact survivors who are in unsafe situations. "Normally survivors try to keep it together around the holidays, for the sake of the family," Hall said. "But now that you should not be having big gatherings, I don't know." Hopefully, she said, with positive vaccine developments, the community is at a pandemic turning point, although the problem is far from gone. In the meantime, there are considerations which business owners and employers could consider to help make their workplace a safe space for providers, Hall said. Even something as simple as poster condemning abuse, featuring a hotline number, could send the right message, so folks in those situations feel safe. "Even businesses who even bothered to put up posters, maybe saying abuse is not okay, like just visuals," she said. "That folks that may be in those situations with space, or there's just the number they may not want to talk to you but they may take that number down when they're in the bathroom or something." The idea, she said, is to make domestic violence less taboo to talk about. "If people think it's safe to open up," Hall said, "they probably would." Harrington HealthCare Opens New Addiction Immediate Care Center The Addiction Immediate Care center provides rapid access to a full continuum of treatment for any type of substance use disorder, all in one place. Services Include: • Rapid assessment of alcohol and substance use disorder • Ongoing management of therapeutic medications including suboxone, vivitrol, methadone • Individual counseling • Support groups • And more! To make an appointment call 508-949-8981 harringtonhospital.org/aic Deborah Hall, director of domestic violence services at YWCA Central Massachusett 25% Women who experience IPV 10% Men who experience IPV 43 million Women who experience psychological aggression 38 million Men who experience psychological aggression 1 in 5 Rate of women who report severe IPV 1 in 7 Rate of men who report severe IPV 1 in 5 Rate of women who report sexual violence from an intimate partner 1 in 12 Rate of men who report sexual violence from an intimate partner Intimate partner violence in the U.S. Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention H

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