HIGHLIGHTING AN INVISIBLE INJURY
One in three women will experience intimate partner violence. Most will also suffer a brain injury.
When you consider most physical abuse involves blows to the head, face, and neck, it’s not surprising. But while sports concussion dominates news headlines, little attention is paid to how common brain injury is among survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV).
SOAR (Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research) works to change that through a unique, multi-disciplinary research collaboration between University of British Columbia – Okanagan and Kelowna Women’s Shelter.
Get The Facts
What is IPV?
The term intimate partner violence (IPV) describes physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former intimate partner or spouse.
IPV is also known as domestic abuse or gender-based violence, and is a major public health concern that destroys lives, devastates families, and affects communities around the world.
One in three women will experience IPV in her lifetime.
In Canada alone, it’s estimated 230,000 women between 20 and 54 will experience severe violence at the hands of an intimate partner every year.
The federal Department of Justice estimates the annual costs associated with IPV exceed $7.4B.
What is BI?
A brain injury (BI) is an alteration in brain function caused by external forces, or a reduction in oxygen supply. A concussion is a form of BI caused by a hard blow or jolt to the head, neck, or body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth.
In intimate partner violence (IPV), a concussion can happen from a variety of causes, including being:
- Punched, or hit with an object.
- Violently shaken.
- Pushed down stairs.
- Thrown out of a moving vehicle.
Did you know? In Canada, there were 933 intimate partner homicides between 2007 and 2017.
Read MoreDid you know? You should seek immediate medical care if you experience seizures or convulsions after a brain injury. These are both red flags which could signify a very serious injury.
Read MoreDid you know? Difficulty remembering new information can be a symptom of a brain injury. Writing down or repeating information can be a helpful strategy for remembering information.
Read MoreDid you know? About 7 in 10 victims of police-reported intimate partner violence had physical force used against them.
Read MoreDid you know? You should seek immediate medical care if you experience vomiting after a brain injury. This is a red flag for what could be a very serious brain injury.
Read MoreDid you know? Changes in emotions can be a symptom of a brain injury. A brain injury can cause someone to become agitated more easily.
Read MoreRT @ResearchonWH: Our new blog post brings attention to the devastating impact COVID-19 can have on women who are with abusive partners and…
Read MoreDid you know? You should seek immediate medical care if you experience neck pain or tenderness after a brain injury. These are both red flags for a potentially serious concussion.
Read MoreDid you know? Dizziness and blurry vision can be a symptom of a brain injury. If you experience either of these after hitting your head, you have likely experienced a brain injury.
Read MoreDid you know? Women are more likely to be physically assaulted by an intimate partner than by someone else.
Read MoreDid you know? Nausea and vomiting can be a symptom of a brain injury. This is a red flag for a potentially serious injury, and you should seek medical attention immediately.
Read MoreDid you know? In Canada, 8 in 10 victims of intimate partner violence are women.
Read MoreDid you know? You should seek immediate medical care if you experience weakness, or feelings of tingling or burning in the arms or legs after a brain injury. This is a red flag for what could be a ver...
Read MoreElisabeth was a research Coordinator for SOAR. She walked participants through mental health screening tools, and an interview designed to screen for potential brain injuries. She also supported parti...
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Did you know? You should seek immediate medical care if you experience double vision after a brain injury. This is a red flag for what could be a very serious brain injury.
Read MoreDid you know? Someone suffering from a concussion can have good days and bad days. Some days may be symptom free and other days may be difficult to function.
Read MoreJune is Brain Injury Awareness Month! Headaches are common after someone has experienced a concussion or other brain injury. Our friends at Nanaimo Brain Injury Society want to help with a special edu...
Read MoreDid you know? Physical force was used against three in four children and youth victims of family violence in Canada in 2017.
Read MoreRT @DrvanDonkelaar: Looking forward to contributing to this seminar with @kmason in which we will be presenting on the @CanadaSoar Project.
Read MoreDid you know? A headache can be a symptom of a brain injury. This is one of the most common concussion symptoms. It can go away quickly or last for a very long time.
Read MoreSoar Is Supported By:
