String of three murders in Nova Scotia raises alarm about intimate partner violence

One of the barriers to understanding the full scope of intimate-partner violence lies in people not reporting their abuse to police in the first place, which can happen for several reasons Suokonautio said. Some people might come from communities — such as Black or Indigenous communities — that have strained relationships with local police.

Others are simply concerned about their safety when thinking about reporting.

“Women are experts at surviving,” Suokonautio said. “That’s a very practical survival mechanism not to call police, but at the same time, it means that you continue to endure violence.”

In a similar vein, the constant presence of an abusive partner can prevent people from calling other resources that can help, such as transition houses and counsellors.

“We know the research is very clear that the lethality goes up when you try to leave,” Suokonautio said. Link to full article here.