Transcript Domestic violence and mental health

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
MENTAL HEALTH
Heather Nancarrow
Director
Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family
Violence Research
OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION
 Nature
and prevalence
 Impacts
 General
 Babies and toddlers
 Children 4 – 12 years
 Young people
OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION
 Key
initiatives / responses
 Concluding comments
NATURE
 Emotional
 Verbal
 Psychological
/ spiritual
 Financial abuse
 Sexual / Physical
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS
GENDERED
Victims
Perpetrators
87 % female
98% male
(Access Economics, 2004)
Gender differences in:
motivation, frequency, severity ,
outcomes
(Dobash, Dobash, Wilson and Daly, 1992; James ,1999
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS GENDERED
PREVALENCE
Current relationships
Australia*
Queensland†
Non-physical
37%
31%
Physical
10%
11.5%
NB: Indicative – studies not directly comparable
*Mouzos & Makkai, 2004
†Nancarrow, Lockie, Sharma, 2009
NON-FATAL IMPACTS
 Physical

injuries
Fractures, lacerations, bruises
 Reproductive

STI, termination, birth complications,
miscarriage
 Mental

health
health
Depression, anxiety , eating disorders
traumatic and post-traumatic stress disorder,
phobias
NON-FATAL IMPACTS
 Unhealthy

practices
Harmful tobacco and alcohol use, illicit
drugs
 Other

Chronic pain, sleep disorders, homelessness /
transience, poverty
FATAL IMPACTS
 Homicide
 Suicide
 STIs
 Death
during/following childbirth
HOMICIDE
Intimate partner homicide
Australia
77 p.a.
Queensland
11 p.a
Mouzos & Rushforth, 2003
NB: Under-counting due to data collection / reporting
HOMICIDE
 Homicide
•
•
of children by parents
Average 25 p.a.
Killer: 63% fathers
 Motives:
•
•
•
3 of 5 cases unknown
21% - ‘domestic altercation’
9% - ‘family breakdown’

Mouzos & Rushforth, 2003
MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS
Physical abuse
Condition
Any
Severe
physical physical
abuse
abuse
Within
last 12
months
Sexual
abuse
Times more likely
Depression
3.7
10.9
8.8
4.8
Severe
psychological
symptoms
4.4
13.4
10.7
-
Nancarrow, Lockie and Sharma, 2009
MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS
Non-physical abuse
Condition
Any
Psych. Socialnonpsych.
physical
Economic
Times more likely
Depression
Severe
psychological
symptoms
3.6
3.0
4.2
4.7
5.2
3.7
5.6
4.5
Nancarrow, Lockie and Sharma, 2009
CHILDREN’S REACTIONS
Tension, fear, aggression, uncertainty 
feelings:
Fear
Worry
Terror
Sadness
Helplessness
Anger
Dread
Numbness
Guilt Self-blame
Shame
IMPACTS: BABIES & TODDLERS

Impaired brain development / social development

Greater irritability

Psychosomatic illness, sleep/eating disorders

Aggression
IMPACTS: CHILDREN 4 – 12 YEARS

Poor concentration

Aggression, hyperactivity, disobedience

Disturbed sleep, nightmares

Withdrawal, low self-esteem

Showing no emotion (’spaced out’)

Always on edge, wary
IMPACTS: YOUNG PEOPLE
Depression Suicide
Aggression
Sexual/physical violence
Substance abuse
Withdrawal
Parental abuse
OPPORTUNITIES
 Time
 Qld
for Action
Government strategy
 Coming
attractions:

Battered person’s defence – draft bill

Indigenous Family Violence Prevention
Forum
THANK YOU
www.noviolence.com.au
The Q’ld Department of Communities provides triennial funding for the
Q’ld Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research to undertake
research, evaluation, sector development and community
engagement on issues pertaining to domestic and family violence.