'We need to work together': Expert says increasing rates of family violence requires systemic changes
As the Edmonton Police Service mourns two officers killed while responding to a domestic dispute, an advocate that works with people experiencing violence and abuse says the tragedy is bringing attention to the rising rates of family violence.
Constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan were fatally shot Thursday morning as they responded to a family dispute at a northwest Edmonton apartment.
According to police, when the pair of officers arrived, they were met by a 55-year-old woman outside the complex. The officers went to the suite where she lived with a 73-year-old man and their 16-year-old son.
When the constables arrived outside the suite, both were shot multiple times by the teen and were immediately incapacitated.
Christine McCourt-Reid, with YWCA Edmonton, says through the pandemic, the incidence rates of family violence have "skyrocketed."
"Family violence can look like a lot of different things to a lot of different people," McCourt-Reid told CTV News Edmonton. "Many people who may not have experienced it before or are not familiar don't recognize that it's not necessarily just physical abuse between two partners.
"It can be emotional," she added. "It can be financial manipulation, it can be any form of control, and it doesn't have to be just between partners. It can be between parents and children or grandparents."
While there are various resources available, stigma, waiting lists, access costs, or not knowing where to start can be barriers to getting help.
"There are capacity issues, definitely," McCourt-Reid said. "I know even us at YWCA Edmonton, we have a waitlist for our mental health services."
By normalizing having conversations about mental health outside of crisis situations, McCourt-Reid believes it can be easier to access help.
"We need to look at a bigger systemic change of making sure that we're not only destigmatizing the need for mental health support and the need to talk about it and the need to recognize that mental health is a priority for people.
"It's really difficult as a parent to watch your child struggle with anything, I think most particularly mental health," she added.
McCourt-Reid recommends looking for sudden behaviour changes, like being more reclusive, and being non-judgemental when approaching mental health.
"A youth who is struggling, who is their safe person," she said. "Maybe, it's not a parent in every situation, but finding your safe person and finding that safe person and being able to confide in them."
For her, it's going to take everyone, from all levels of government to individual community members, to tackle the stigma and accessibility for mental health resources.
"It's not going to be one person, one individual, one organization creating change, we need to work together as a community to eradicate any of these inequities that are leading to violence," she added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.