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July – August 2020
A message from Drs. Beecroft and Gregory
Isolation and economic uncertainly put children and adults at increased risk for domestic violence
The COVID-19 pandemic had a largely unexpected result — an increase in domestic violence coupled with a reduction in calls to report domestic abuse. This phenomenon has affected both children and adults.
Keeping children safe
Due to the closure of schools and the stay-at-home orders, there’s been a significant reduction in calls to child welfare agencies regarding possible abuse. Children were simply not in regular contact with teachers, social workers, doctors and others who could help them if they faced violence in a home environment. Other key factors:
- Home visits to at-risk families have been reduced and are now done virtually in many cases.
- Child-parent visitations and family reunification efforts have been reduced or have ceased entirely due to COVID-19.
- Court hearings regarding family reunification have been delayed.
- Other vital parts of the child welfare system, including home-based parenting programs, were brought to a near standstill.
We expect that data will show an uptick in overall cases of reported child abuse once stay-at-home orders are lifted. The extended period of isolation, in conjunction with financial and economic stresses, has exacerbated the domestic violence crisis across the country.
“COVID-19 has created a perfect storm of factors that will almost certainly lead to a sharp increase in unreported cases of child abuse and neglect, as children are cut off from interactions with professionals and teachers, confined at home with caregivers and relatives, and families are feeling the stress of job loss and economic uncertainty, the Brookings Institution reported at brookings.edu* on April 30.
Brookings wrote that the country’s system of detecting abuse and neglect, which is heavily dependent on reports by teachers, doctors and other professionals, is rendered almost completely powerless in this new situation as in-person and face-to-face interactions between children and professionals were minimized by the stay-at-home orders.
In response to this situation, some states are calling on the general public to be extra diligent during this time and report suspected child maltreatment to Child Protective Services. However, it’s been found that reports from the general public were less likely to be substantiated as accurate than reports from professional mandated reporters.
Adults at risk
In addition to children, adults — particularly women and LGBTQ+ individuals — are at an increased risk of domestic violence due to the lockdowns that were instituted to contain COVID-19, according to an article from the Council on Foreign Relations.* Some high- and middle-income countries, including the U.S., Australia, France, Germany and South Africa, have reported increases in domestic violence since the COVID-19 outbreak.
Here are some of the ways that COVID-19 is affecting intimate partner violence survivors, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline:
- Abusive partners may withhold necessary items, such as hand sanitizer or disinfectants.
- Abusive partners may share misinformation about the pandemic to control or frighten survivors, or to prevent them from seeking appropriate medical attention if they have symptoms.
- Abusive partners may withhold insurance cards, threaten to cancel insurance, or prevent survivors from seeking medical attention if they need it.
- Programs that serve survivors may be significantly affected. Shelters may be full or may even stop intakes altogether. Survivors may also fear entering shelters because of being in close quarters with groups of people.
- Survivors who are older or have chronic heart or lung conditions may be at increased risk in public places where they would typically get support, such as shelters, counseling centers or courthouses.
- Travel restrictions may affect a survivor’s escape or safety plan. It may not be safe for them to use public transportation or to fly.
- An abusive partner may feel more justified and escalate their isolation tactics.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers some suggestions for survivors on its website at thehotline.org.* Its suggestions focus on three key areas:
- Create a safety plan.
- Practice self-care.
- Reach out.
We encourage you to share the following information about the National Domestic Violence Hotline with your patients:
- Victims and survivors who need support can call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 for TTY.
- Those who are unable to speak safely can go to thehotline.org* or text LOVEIS to 22522.
It’s important that we all remain extra vigilant to signs of domestic abuse among our patients, friends and neighbors during these challenging times.
About the authors
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| William Beecroft, M.D. | Kristyn Gregory, D.O. |
William Beecroft, M.D., and Kristyn Gregory, D.O., are medical directors of behavioral health for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
*Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan doesn’t own or control this website.
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