The Facts
Domestic Abuse
Alberta has the third highest domestic abuse rates in the country.
(Stats Canada, 2016)
Only 25% of people experiencing domestic abuse will contact the police, and yet the Calgary Police responds to 2 domestic abuse related calls every hour.
(Calgary Police Service, 2018)
80% of people who experience domestic abuse experience it in the workplace.
(Canadian Labour Congress Survey, 2014)
Domestic abuse is a leading contributor to homelessness.
(National Coalition of Homelessness, 2009)
80% of people experiencing domestic abuse tell an informal support first.
(Barrett & St.Pierre, 2011; StatsCan, 2013)
A positive conversation is likely to lead someone to seek further help.
(Evans & Feder, 2014; Women’s Health West, 2015)
Positive conversations can help to buffer some of the negative mental health affects of abuse.
(Belknap et al., 2009; Goodman & Smyth, 2011; Gregory, Feder, Taket,& Williamson, 2017; Sylaska & Edwards, 2014)
Natural supports can also improve mental health outcomes and lower levels of self-blame.
(Latta & Goodman, 2011)
Children who witness abuse in the home have twice the rate of psychiatric disorders as children from non-abusive homes.
(Canadian Women’s Foundation, 2019)
Domestic abuse rates are more prevalent in rural communities.
(Government of Canada Dept. of Justice, 2010)
People who are more isolated have naturally smaller communities, so they have less opportunity to talk about the abuse that’s going on.
People living in rural communities might choose to stay in an abusive relationship because they don’t want to leave livestock or pets behind.
(CBC News, 2018)
Rural communities lack safe, affordable housing options. Sometimes leaving an abusive relationship could mean leaving the whole community.
(CBC News, 2018)
Women and girls make up 67% of domestic abuse victims, and in the case of intimate partner abuse, 78% of victims are women.
(Stats Canada, 2018)
Indigenous women are 6 times more likely to experience spousal abuse than non-indigenous women.
(Canadian Women’s Foundation, 2019)
People who identify as LGBTQ are twice as likely to be affected by domestic abuse.
(Stats Canada, 2018)
Past experiences of discrimination related to sexual orientation increase the likelihood that a person will experience intimate partner abuse.
(Barrett & St. Pierre, 2013)