Domestic violence rates soar over the holidays

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Usually, the holiday season is a happy time of year. But for a rising number of families it can be traumatic.

New data from the University of Calgary School of Public Policy, with help from the Calgary Police Service, shows how domestic violence incidents rise at this time of year, reaching a peak on New Year’s Day.

“New Year’s Day is a very bad day, indeed,” said the report’s co-author Ron Kneebone.

On average on New Year’s Day between the years 2013 and 2017, there were nearly 50 reported domestic violence incidents in Calgary. In the week before and after, the number of daily incidents is usually between 10 and 15.

It’s indicative of a rising trend across the city, which really started to begin with the 2014 recession.

“We’ve seen a real spike in people seeking counselling services in general, but also their levels of distress, and the longer they’ve been out of work, the more distressed they are,” said Calgary Counselling Centre CEO Robbie Babins-Wagner. “When you’re worried about if you can pay the bills next month, when you’ve been together because there’s been a holiday, when people may have been drinking and don’t have the skills to solve some of these problems, that’s when we’re most likely to see domestic violence.”

Annual rates are reaching staggering proportions as well. In 2013, there were 2,795 reported incidents in Calgary, but based on current trends it’s expected there will be more than 5,200 incidents by the end of 2018.

“And I would actually describe those numbers as being epidemic in our community,” added S/Sgt. Paul Wozney with the Calgary Police Service Domestic Conflict Unit.

Wozney said officers expect to be sent out to more of these calls during the winter holidays, and also any other long weekend where drinking is involved. There’s also a correlation to sporting events at other times of year.

“In competition with a long weekend and the stress that goes with that, often times there are flare-ups in the home and we see that on a constant basis,” he said.

But along with the typical stressors at this time of year — paying the bills and disagreements at the dinner table for example — there could also be some societal issues at play.

“Men needing to have power and needing to be in control, and women being dependent and wanting to please,” said Heather Morley, VP of programs and services at YW Calgary. “So when you take historical imbalances of power, often harmful constructs of gender and families and expectations. You layer in local systems where people will say, why did she stay — or why does he stay — in an abusive relationship? I think we should be asking ourselves how would they even be able to leave?”

That’s why organizations such as the police, the Calgary Counselling Centre and YW Calgary want people to know it is okay to seek help.

“We can’t just go knock on doors. We need people to call us. We are here to help, and we want the community to know that,” said S/Sgt. Wozney.

“There doesn’t need to be an incident of domestic violence in order to seek help,” added Babins-Wagner. “Earlier is always better. Treatment goes faster, and people can actually do really well in their counselling.”

“You’re not alone,” said Morley. “And I think that people can understand and relate. And there’s a lot of choice in the support and services available in the city. And we have an incredible response network, so it’s finding the right time and the right place and the right agency to support you to move forward.”

There are numerous sources to contact if you are experiencing domestic issues, including:

Alberta Works – Support for Albertans Fleeing Abuse 24 hours line – 1-866-644-5135

The Distress Centre 24 hour crisis line – 403-266-HELP (4357)

Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter 24 hour line – 403-234-SAFE (7233)

YWCA of Calgary 24 hour line – 403-266-0707

Kids Help Phone 24 hour line – 1-800-688-6868

More resources can also be found online on the Calgary Police Service website.