Domestic violence against women and the COVID-19 pandemic: What is the role of psychiatry?

• Published in: International journal of law and psychiatry Vol. 71; p. 101594
• Main Authors: Gulati, Gautam, Kelly, Brendan D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2020; The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Battered Women - psychology; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; COVID-19; Domestic violence; Domestic Violence - psychology; Female; Humans; Intimate partner violence; Mental health; Mental Health Services; Pandemics; Physician's Role; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Psychiatry; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Domestic violence; Psychiatry; Intimate partner violence; Mental health
• ISSN: 0160-2527; 1873-6386; 1873-6386
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2020.101594

A heightened risk of domestic violence has been associated with infection-reducing measures undertaken by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychiatric services can play a key role in addressing this issue by (a) addressing certain risk factors for perpetration of domestic violence through, for example, assertive identification and management of substance misuse; (b) providing support, advocacy and treatment services for victims of domestic violence; and (c) multi-agency working to strengthen medical and social responses to domestic violence. At a time like this, it is important that multi-disciplinary mental health services are strengthened, rather than depleted, in order to address the pressing issues at hand.