Does domestic violence rise during holidays?
Posted Dec 25, 2022 10:31 am.
Last Updated Dec 25, 2022 10:32 am.
The festive season may bring joy for many; however, it can bring stress for some.
Manisha Majeed, a domestic violence survivor from Calgary, says instances rise during the holidays. She says the best way to cope is to avoid confrontation.
“You should be able to walk away from that fight … remove yourself from that situation, go be in your bedroom, go for a walk, do something, so that your partner knows that you are not interested in having that conversation,” Majeed told CityNews.
“But it is again very complicated because if that person is a narcissist or an abusive partner, he would know how to trigger you. And controlling that trigger is actually very tough. I have been there, and I understand.”
READ MORE: Canadian Women’s Foundation launches course on how to respond to distress gesture
Meanwhile, Linda McLean, executive director of the Brenda Stafford Centre in Calgary, says this holiday season is crucial, not only because of the extreme temperatures and high expectations, but also due to inflation and an already overburdened system.
“People are making desperate choices, you know we’ve been talking to women who are currently living in vehicles because they haven’t been able to access women’s shelters, emergency beds,” McLean said. “They’ve been over capacity for months, so I suspect there will be lots of calls to 211 and 911. Lots of need for support, but despite the fact that there will be an increase in calls, please call! please call! If you are in immediate danger, call 911.”
Experts say domestic violence is not only physical, but it can be mental and emotional.
If you need help, reach out to helplines, such as Wellness Together Canada, which is available 24/7. You can do so by calling 1-866-585-0445, or texting WELLNESS to 741741.
