Given the pressures and stress of staying at home, work and financial pressures, disruptions in normal routines and being in much closer quarters for extended periods, experts are concerned that violence and related injuries—such as intimate partner violence, and abuse of children and the elderly—are likely to increase during the COVID-19 outbreak.¹²³⁴⁵

Watch for warning signs, know how to respond to someone disclosing abuse, find the tools to make a safety plan, and know how to get help:

• HelpGuide, Child Abuse and Neglect
• Canadian Red Cross, How to Respond to a Disclosure of Child Abuse or Neglect
• Gender-Based Violence, Sexual Assault, and Domestic Violence, Government of BC
• Canadian Centre for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
• Government of BC – Keeping Kids Safe
• VictimLinkBC hotline

The First Nations Health Authority has information on COVID-19 and relevant resources. More resources specific to Indigenous peoples:

• KUU-US Crisis Services: The KUU-US Crisis line is available 24/7 to provide support to Indigenous people in BC.
• Vancouver Coastal Health First Nations ReAct (Elder Abuse Response)
• Delegated Aboriginal Agencies in BC

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1. Goh, S.(March 25, 2020). Child sexual abuse expected to rise amid COVID-19 pandemic, experts say. Global News. Accessed from: https://globalnews.ca/news/6730142/coronavirus-covid-19-child-sexual-abuse-increase/
2. Selvaratnam, T. (March 23, 2020). Where can domestic violence victims turn during COVID-19? The New York Times. Accessed from: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/opinion/covid-domestic-violence.html
3. Draus, A. (March 25, 2020). Coronavirus self-isolation could lead to increased domestic violence: N.S. agencies. Global News. Accessed from: https://globalnews.ca/news/6732637/coronavirus-self-isolation-could-lead-to-increased-domestic-violence-n-s-agencies/
4. Davidson, J. (March 24, 2020). Coronavirus could act as ‘pressure cooker’ to increase abuse and neglect of the elderly. Holyrood. Accessed from: https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,coronavirus-could-act-as-pressure-cooker-to-increase-abuse-and-neglect-of-t_15269.htm
5. Hernandez J. (May 10, 2020). Child abuse likely under-reported since start of pandemic, doctor warns. CBC News. Accessed from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/child-abuse-likely-under-reported-since-start-of-pandemic-doctor-warns-1.5563397