It was an extreme case of domestic violence, police said, that led to the deaths of eight people, and a ninth dead from an apparent suicide earlier in the week – and it’s a tragedy that’s forcing cases of domestic violence into the spotlight.

The numbers are staggering – last year, Edmonton police dealt with nearly 7,700 reports of domestic violence, or nearly one case per hour.

Numbers from a 2010 study show Alberta’s domestic violence problem is higher than the Canadian average, both in violence against partners, and family homicides.

In Edmonton, there are more reported victims per capita, than the average metropolitan area in Canada.

“There are a lot of contributing factors for domestic violence,” Amber Niemeier with YWCA Edmonton said. “No case is the same as one another, but there are attitudes and policies that need to change and more supports that need to be put in place for people who are suffering domestic violence so they can get the help they need.”

Investigators believe domestic violence played a role in a tragedy that saw the deaths of nine people in three different locations in Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan.

“There is strong evidence that these events are the tragic result of family and domestic violence,” Edmonton police Chief Rod Knecht said.

Knecht said the man who lived in a north side home where seven people were found dead inside, had been arrested before on allegations that included domestic violence.

Records also showed the man who lived there filed for bankruptcy last year.

Neighbours said they also saw signs of domestic violence.

“I was actually inside my own house, and I heart them arguing inside their house,” neighbour Jeff Bautista said. “They were behind closed doors.”

As for prevention of any other cases, experts say police can only do so much – and stopping domestic violence is everyone’s responsibility.

“If you see something, say something,” Niemeier said.

Advocates stress that if there are suspicions of domestic abuse, to watch for signs, and to speak to the potential victim about it. If domestic abuse is taking place, experts said police should be called.

With files from Bill Fortier