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People working at organizations that support women experiencing violence reported vicarious trauma, anxiety and depression during the pandemic due to both increased demand and the need to adapt service delivery in response to public health mandates, according to a new study out of Dalhousie University that is the first of its kind in Canada. 

Researchers surveyed direct support and leadership staff who helped deliver lifesaving services at violence against women (VAW) organizations. Their mixed-methods study included quantitative survey data on the mental health of 127 VAW staff in the Greater Toronto Area throughout 2021. They also did 18 interviews with staff to support interpretation of the data and enrich the quantitative findings regarding the mental health of staff. The study was co-led by Dr. Alexa Yakubovich and Priya Shastri, in partnership with VAW organizations and women with lived experience of violence.

The research, led by postdoctoral fellow Dr. Bridget Steele, found that 81 per cent of leadership and 61 per cent of direct support staff indicated their work was more distressing during the pandemic, which saw higher rates of VAW. Participants reported moderate symptoms of vicarious trauma and mild symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

They link that increased distress to challenges related to changing work environments, feelings that they were not meeting client needs and difficulties in adapting self-care strategies. 

Dr. Steele is available to discuss the findings and how they may be used to inform policy and support for VAW groups that require increased resources and flexible funding to hire and retain more staff to respond to higher and more complex caseloads during public health emergencies.

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Media contact:

Alison Auld
Senior Research Reporter
Communications, Marketing and Creative Services
Dalhousie University
Cell: 1-902-220-0491
Email: alison.auld@dal.ca