Women with a severe mental health-related disability are nearly four times more likely to have been a victim of intimate partner violence than those without a disability, according to a new study by Women’s College Hospital.
The study, published in the journal BioMed Central Public Health, is the first Canadian population-based study to examine the prevalence of intimate partner violence among women with activity limitations – or disability – with a specific focus on those due to mental health-related problems.
“Our study suggests that women whose daily activities were limited by a psychological, emotional or mental health condition may be especially vulnerable to being victimised,” said Janice Du Mont, the study’s lead author. “What’s more, we found that the more severe the mental health related disability, the higher the prevalence of intimate partner violence.”
Research shows women with a mental illness are at an increased risk ofviolence compared to women in the general population. Intimate partner violence, which includes physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse by a partner, is often recurrent and linked to negative physical and psychological consequences.
“For women with a mental health-related disability, the consequences of experiencing discrimination can be devastating,” said Du Mont. “It may lead to social isolation and put these women at greater risk for harmful or abusive relationships, discouraging them from seeking help from their abusive relationship and their mental health problems.”
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