Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Domestic Abuse, Coercive Control & COVID-19 - Carrie McManus, Andrea Silverstone
-
Disclaimer: This session was delivered for the 2023 ICSA Conference. The speaker of this session does not speak on behalf of ICSA as an organization.
-
Abstract: In March 2020, the world was told to stay home to keep themselves safe; however, for those impacted by domestic abuse, home was often the most unsafe place to be. Rates and occurrences of domestic abuse increased during the pandemic (and continue to do so), with new and different ways of engaging in coercive behaviors observed in relationships. Throughout our experiences of lockdowns, we witnessed how the pandemic, restrictions, vaccinations, and health considerations became common drivers of coercive control behaviors and experiences. In this presentation, we will explore the experiences of coercive control and domestic abuse during the pandemic and how our social service organization worked to support individuals. We will discuss the importance of building awareness and capacity among informal supporters (anyone supporting someone experiencing or using domestic abuse who is not a formal domestic abuse organization) in addressing the issues arising from lockdown restrictions and work-from-home orders for those impacted by domestic abuse. By empowering the general public to understand coercive control and recognize its presence in the relationships of their friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc., we were able to address coercive behaviors despite limited capacities and opportunities for engagement. This presentation will also delve into the new programs created by our organization to address coercive control during the pandemic and how we have been able to adapt and maintain them throughout the changing experiences of the pandemic.
Domestic Abuse, Coercive Control & COVID-19 - Carrie McManus, Andrea Silverstone
-
Disclaimer: This session was delivered for the 2023 ICSA Conference. The speaker of this session does not speak on behalf of ICSA as an organization.
-
Abstract: In March 2020, the world was told to stay home to keep themselves safe; however, for those impacted by domestic abuse, home was often the most unsafe place to be. Rates and occurrences of domestic abuse increased during the pandemic (and continue to do so), with new and different ways of engaging in coercive behaviors observed in relationships. Throughout our experiences of lockdowns, we witnessed how the pandemic, restrictions, vaccinations, and health considerations became common drivers of coercive control behaviors and experiences. In this presentation, we will explore the experiences of coercive control and domestic abuse during the pandemic and how our social service organization worked to support individuals. We will discuss the importance of building awareness and capacity among informal supporters (anyone supporting someone experiencing or using domestic abuse who is not a formal domestic abuse organization) in addressing the issues arising from lockdown restrictions and work-from-home orders for those impacted by domestic abuse. By empowering the general public to understand coercive control and recognize its presence in the relationships of their friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc., we were able to address coercive behaviors despite limited capacities and opportunities for engagement. This presentation will also delve into the new programs created by our organization to address coercive control during the pandemic and how we have been able to adapt and maintain them throughout the changing experiences of the pandemic.
