Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence During a Pandemic

Written by:  Luana Yoshikawa-Scanlan, MBA,  PRIME Consultant; Photo from:  https://www.samoanews.com/features/thousands-take-part-samoa-mass-covid-19-vax-drive-photo-caption
First and foremost, victim services must be categorized ‘essential services’ by the local government to ensure access to the women’s shelter, court, and protection orders.
Secondly, advocates can organize community responses to stay-at-home orders:

• Use media to make abusers aware that the community is ready to support victims;
• Use visual and audio signals outside homes or on their person, code words on the phone or online to signal for help – community members can respond to signals by calling emergency hotlines or bringing in appropriate cultural interventionists. 
• A community volunteer system can ensure those in isolation receive food deliveries, prescriptions, mail, counseling.
• Enhanced surveillance like ‘neighbor watch’ to report signs of abuse.
• Social support can be provided through virtual chat groups, support groups, telemedicine, and counseling to keep people connected.  E-talanoa is a concept coined by Faleolo (2016; 2019; 2020b) referring to ongoing dialogue, sharing of ideas, and storying experiences using online forums while maintaining important Pasifika protocols and understandings of vā. Enari and Fa’aea (2020) furthered the concept as ‘digital vā’.

There is a critical need for social safety nets – social support networks online during a Pandemic. Informational support is focused on the what’s happening in the community – closures, restricted hours, help hotlines, virtual town halls with health professionals.  Community engagement is a critical factor tying this support system together.  UN Women recommends raising visibility of increased violence and building strong networks. 
The 2020 IPSOS Pub poll shows 1 in 5 Americans under age 35 sought professional counseling since the pandemic began which indicates a need to address the impact of social isolation among young people.  Tools like the Daily Coping Toolkit (smartpatients.com) and the free COVID Coach app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.va.mobilehealth.ncptsd.covid&hl=en_US) focus on wellbeing in the face of COVID related environmental changes that impact mental health outcomes. Several domestic violence and mental health websites offer tools to apply ‘psychological first aid’ (PFA) to address health anxiety – stress directly resulting from COVID-19 and related impacts such as violence:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pfa-mobile/id551079424 The free PFA Mobile app was designed by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs to assist first responders who provide psychological first aid or PFA. The app can be used by victim advocates and outreach workers.
The PFA Pocket Guide includes a day-to-day Stress Assessment and other exercises to understand self-care, the stress from caring for others, personal factors and support systems. https://www.globalfirstaidcentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/19-0420PS-PFA_Pocket_Guide_2020_EN_FA.pdf
The ABCDE Handbook guides the lay-person in applying PFA in various crisis contexts. https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/67196

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