Domestic violence and COVID

Hidden victims: COVID-19, quarantine, and domestic abuse

This past year has been one of isolation, stress, and trauma for many Americans across the country. With schools closed and many people shifting to remote work, we have spent more time in our houses then we could even have imagined. For most of us, long-term quarantine, while maddening as it has been, has been manageable (although sometimes barely, it seems). For others, especially children, who are subject to domestic abuse, it has been a nightmare.

With no school or daycare to attend, and extracurricular activities canceled, abused children have nowhere to go and no escape from their abusers. An interesting statistic reveals just how detrimental this pandemic has been for victims of domestic abuse. In a recent study of crime rates in 2020 of eight major metropolitan areas, researchers found while most violent crime, including homicide, rape, assault, and burglary declined, numbers of calls to domestic abuse help lines increased[1]. Add to the mix the stresses of job instability, isolation, fear, loss, and just having to deal with a “new normal”, and you’ve turned an already unstable home into a powder keg.

One of the main issues impacting victims of domestic abuse during the pandemic is the fact that they are no longer seeing anyone outside of the house. Physical and psychological symptoms of abuse can alert teachers, coaches, or other authorities that the child is at risk. Yet when we cannot see the victim face to face, how can we really know if they are being harmed? And what can we do about it, when social services are unable to conduct home visits due to social distancing and staff shortages?

There are steps that community organizations can take to reach out to victims of domestic violence during the pandemic. One recommendation, put forth by International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in May of last year[2], outlines some innovative strategies to raise awareness of available resources. For example, resource lists could be placed in food bank boxes that are distributed in the community. Another strategy would be to post information in public places, such as grocery stores and pharmacies. These somewhat clandestine approaches can get valuable information to those in need “under the radar” of their abuser.

Individuals can get involved as well. One way to help is to donate to the National Domestic Violence Hotline[3]. Their entire staff is remote and can serve as a backup for local and regional hotlines that may have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Additionally, if you know of someone who may be a victim of domestic abuse, then now is the time to reach out to them and see how they are doing. Victims of abuse can also reach out themselves for help in ways that maximize their privacy and safety. For instance, the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s website (www.thehotline.org) is very much aware of the risk of having internet usage monitored by an abuser, and has critical information on how to protect your browsing history. It even has a pop-up on their landing page which gives you the opportunity to leave the site quickly and securely if necessary.

With the vaccination campaign against COVID underway, victims of domestic violence may soon be able to safely come out of hiding long enough to find help. Social workers will be able to recommence home visits and check-ins without needing to follow strict distancing protocols. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for domestic violence, and that pandemic will continue. Yet, there may be some good that has come from this experience after all. By having to think creatively of ways to reach out to domestic violence victims, organizations have had to become more proactive in their approach. Further adoption of these strategies could lead to better outcomes for victims in the future.