Intimate Partner Violence, Mental Health Services and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario: What are the differences, if any, in mental health service accessibility and service satisfaction during COVID-19 between women in abusive relationships and women in non-abusive relationships?
Abstract
Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada as a result of increased economic pressures and social isolation brought on by stay-at home orders. During the COVID-19 pandemic, women experiencing IPV experienced declines in mental health conditions and unique difficulties in accessing mental health services amid closures, shifts in service delivery, and inconsistent availabilities.
Methods: An online survey was administered to 44 women living in Ontario (23 who had not experienced IPV and 16 who had not) to explore their satisfaction and access to mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics were used to explore differences in access and satisfaction between those who had experienced IPV and. Those who had not. An inductive thematic analysis was used to understand the types of barriers being faced by women.
Results: Women who experienced violence had higher means for satisfaction and demonstrated lower barriers of access. Women indicated using a range of mental health services with primary health care providers and pharmacies being used more frequently. The main barriers to access faced by women were waitlist challenges and the limited availability of healthcare. professionals.
Conclusion: This study highlights the nuances of access and satisfaction while capturing the need for multi-sectoral collaboration in ensuring that women know which services are available to them during global crises. Further research is required to explore the satisfaction and access of women experiencing IPV with specific mental health services.