BCIFV home > Newsletter > 2002 Archives > Spring 2002 articles

Notes from the Editor

Kai-Lee Klymchuk

British Columbia leads other Canadian provinces in the reported incidence of physical and sexual assault of women - 59% of women have experienced at least one violent incident since the age of 16. BC's sexual assault rates (reported to police) are significantly higher than the national average, and 5% of BC seniors self-report experiencing abuse or neglect since turning 65 - again, a rate higher than the national average of 4%. And an estimated 50-70,000 school kids in BC are exposed to partner violence every year.

The "costs" of violence are many: physical, economic, psychological, emotional, social/families, work-related and productivity, toll on health care and law enforcement systems, and in lost and compromised lives.

In strictly financial terms, the costs are staggering. According to the Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children in London, Ontario, losses incurred in social services/education, health/medicine, criminal justice and labour/ employment sectors of violence against women alone was estimated in 1995 to be more than $4.2 billion annually. (Day, 1995).

In an era of rising health care costs, and increasing violence in society, we might well ask what contribution the latter makes to the former. The short-term impact of living with violence on both mental and physical health is fairly well recognized, however, making direct links between an individual's experience of violence and state of health over the long-term is a more abstract exercise. Numerous possible intervening factors complicate the easy connections we might otherwise make between these conditions. During the last few years, however, researchers have been making these connections through a number of longitudinal studies that clearly show violence exposure's association with increased risk for physical and mental illness and the risk behaviours that may lead to poor health. We are very pleased to present in this issue a synopsis of findings from the groundbreaking ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) studies conducted in the United States. Please look for this article on page 8.

Elsewhere in this issue, readers will learn the results of a local study that examined Vancouver police officers' practice in implementing the VAWIR policy in cases of criminal harassment (p. 11), and of a new case study planned to investigate decision making by abused women who are considering leaving their partners. (p. 12). We've also launched a new column entitled "In Our Community" that's designed to profile BC social service organizations that assist victims of family violence. Please look for this first installment on page 15.

Our fall/winter issue will concern youth and family violence. Please contact the Editor with your suggestions and submissions.

We wish you a pleasant fall season, and thank you for your continued support!

References:

British Columbia. Provincial Health Officer. (1996). A report on the health of British Columbians: Provincial Health Officer's Annual Report 1995. Victoria, BC: Ministry of Health and Ministry Responsible for Seniors.

Day, T. (1995). The health-related costs of violence against women in Canada: The tip of the iceberg. London, ON: Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children.