Distancing due to coronavirus can be fertile ground for domestic violence

FALL RIVER — The coronavirus pandemic has consequences for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, as “stay-at-home” advisories bind many to unsafe homes and the crisis itself has potential to exacerbate the behavior of abusers, advocates say.

“A lot of people are afraid to leave their homes, and that's a really challenging thing when you're also afraid within your home,” said Marybeth Truran, director of the Women's Center at Stanley Street Treatment and Resources.

The Women’s Center coordinates with the Fall River Police Department via the center's civilian domestic violence advocate, who works at the police station. The advocates help victims of domestic violence find emergency services such as safe housing, legal representation, counseling and food and cash assistance.

The number of referrals and direct calls placed to Fall River's advocate by survivors and their supporters who are seeking emergency services over the past two weeks was 55% higher than the prior two-month average, according to the results of SSTAR's preliminary investigation, which were provided by Truran.

The increase was even more precipitous on weekdays, when, under normal circumstances, one or more people living in an abusive household would typically leave the home for work or school, she said. SSTAR’s review also shows referrals and calls from individuals seeking emergency services on weekdays doubled during the same two-week time frame.

“We often have seen weekends as times when calls for assistance would rise, and now people are together 24/7. They don't have the ability to separate,” said Truran. “Our clients are not only more isolated, but they're also in closer contact with people who are abusive to them."

Anecdotally, Truran said, it also appears the severity of abuse inflicted on survivors in recent weeks intensified.

“Most of the calls are now involving things such as strangulation and other types of more lethal abuse,” she said, adding that experts view strangulation as a “high-risk indicator of potential lethality.”

"We are very concerned. We know that this pandemic is a very challenging time for everyone. Our concern is that the exponential challenge for individuals who are already suffering is so much greater,” she said.

Survivors and their supporters must know that despite the COVID-19 crisis, advocates and clinicians at the Women’s Center are still providing assistance with police and court matters, and offering counseling and advocacy services over the telephone and through video conferencing.

“We want them to know that we are still here for them, that they can call us and we have a number of different advocates ready to assist them via telephone and remote services,” she said. “Survivors live for a long time with domestic violence. They learn a lot about how to keep themselves safe under very trying circumstances, and we try to work with those strengths and support their knowledge and their sense of self-confidence."

SSTAR’s SAFEPLAN advocates are available to help individuals obtain harassment prevention or restraining orders, said Truran. The organization’s court advocates are Karen, whom survivors can reach at 508-837-7756, and Hannah, whom survivors can reach at 508-726-2691 to guide and support them through the process.

SSTAR is a member organization of Jane Doe Inc., whose Executive Director Debra Robbins called the current situation a “perfect storm for all of the ways in which domestic violence and sexual assault present themselves,” saying such abuse thrives in environments where survivors are isolated and disconnected from support networks.

Survivors are likely also facing a number of additional responsibilities and potential sources of stress, as school closures keep children at home, closed businesses cause economic insecurity and concern for the health of relatives abound, she said.

Crucially, advocacy organizations across the state are still working to help survivors develop safe plans and coordinate next steps, Robbins said. Safe plans involve putting preparations in place to leave abusive situations; taking steps such as gathering birth certificates, passports and other important documents; and building or accessing financial reserves.

However, Robbins said, the moment also demands that all individuals extend compassion and attention beyond their immediate social circles, and make it a point to check in on their neighbors and members of their community from a safe distance, or on the telephone.

“Very frequently, people don't know who in their neighborhood is being impacted by sexual and domestic violence, and this only exacerbates that very same dynamic,” said Robbins.

Robbins urged everyone to learn what services and resources are available to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse in their communities so they are prepared to pass on the information if needed.

“Checking in on people, in safe ways, is something that’s required now more than ever,” she said. “When we look back on this time, how we treated one another is going to be something that we talk about.”

There has been no disruption to SSTAR's Women’s Center 24-hour helpline, which can always be reached at 508-675-0087. The helpline offers general information about advocacy, safe planning as well as legal services and counseling services.

The Women's Center advocate at Fall River Police Department, Marta, can be reached at 508-816-4755. The advocate for Swansea, Somerset, and Westport, Fernanda, can be reached at 508-837-9965.

The SafeLink Statewide Hotline can be reached at 877-785-2020.