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COVID-19 Pandemic Has Created the “Perfect Storm” for Family Violence

05/19/2021

In an article published in the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, experts stress that the COVID-19 pandemic presents the “perfect storm” for family violence, where a set of rare circumstances have combined to aggravate intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse. 

Factors during the pandemic that have come together to contribute to family violence may include increased stress and trauma, economic hardship, imposed isolation, and decreased access to community and faith-based support. 

The authors note that public health officials and mental health professionals need to be aware of the impact of disasters on family violence, and they should strive to identify those at risk and provide much needed support. 

“Emergency and disaster situations such as we are seeing with the COVID-19 pandemic are known to increase stress on individuals and families. One unfortunate outcome of that stress is an increase in family violence,” said lead author Kim Usher, RN, PhD, of the University of New England, in Australia. “Nurses are well placed to provide early interventions to reduce stress on families and to assist those for whom family violence is a risk or a reality.”

Additional Information

Link to Study: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/inm.12876

About Journal

International Journal of Mental Health Nursing is a fully refereed journal examining current trends and developments in mental health practice and research, and provides a forum for the exchange of ideas on all issues of relevance to mental health nursing. The journal informs readers of developments in mental health nursing practice and research, directions in education and training, professional issues, management approaches, policy development, ethical questions, theoretical inquiry, and clinical issues.

About Wiley

Wiley drives the world forward with research and education. Through publishing, platforms and services, we help students, researchers, universities, and corporations to achieve their goals in an ever-changing world. For more than 200 years, we have delivered consistent performance to all of our stakeholders. The Company's website can be accessed at www.wiley.com.

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