Zhaohui Su1, Dean McDonnell2, Stephanie Roth3, Quanlei Li4, Sabina Šegalo5, Feng Shi6, Shelly Wagers7. 1. Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies, Mays Cancer Center, School of Nursing, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA. szh@utexas.edu. 2. Department of Humanities, Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, R93 V960, Ireland. 3. Simmy and Harry Ginsburg Library, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA. 4. School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. 5. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, 71000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 6. Department of Research and Development, Shanghai United Imaging Intelligence, 200232, Shanghai, China. 7. Department of Criminology, University of South Florida St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Due to COVID-19, domestic violence victims face a range of mental health challenges, possibly resulting in substantial human and economic consequences. However, there is a lack of mental health interventions tailored to domestic violence victims and in the context of COVID-19. In this study, we aim to identify interventions that can improve domestic violence victims' mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic to address the research gap. MAIN TEXT: Drawing insights from established COVID-19 review frameworks and a comprehensive review of PubMed literature, we obtained information on interventions that can address domestic violence victims' mental health challenges amid COVID-19. We identified practical and timely solutions that can be utilized to address mental health challenges domestic violence victims face amid COVID-19, mainly focusing on (1) decreasing victims' exposure to the abuser and (2) increasing victims' access to mental health services. CONCLUSION: Domestic violence is a public health crisis that affects all demographics and could result in significant morbidity and mortality. In addition to emphasizing mental health challenges faced by domestic violence victims, multidisciplinary interventions are identified that could provide timely and practical solutions to domestic violence victims amid the pandemic, which range from tailored shelter home strategies, education programs, escape plans, laws and regulations, as well as more technology-based mental health solutions. There is a significant need for more multipronged and multidisciplinary strategies to address domestic violence amid and beyond the pandemic, particularly interventions that could capitalize on the ubiquity and cost-effectiveness of technology-based solutions.
BACKGROUND: Due to COVID-19, domestic violence victims face a range of mental health challenges, possibly resulting in substantial human and economic consequences. However, there is a lack of mental health interventions tailored to domestic violence victims and in the context of COVID-19. In this study, we aim to identify interventions that can improve domestic violence victims' mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic to address the research gap. MAIN TEXT: Drawing insights from established COVID-19 review frameworks and a comprehensive review of PubMed literature, we obtained information on interventions that can address domestic violence victims' mental health challenges amid COVID-19. We identified practical and timely solutions that can be utilized to address mental health challenges domestic violence victims face amid COVID-19, mainly focusing on (1) decreasing victims' exposure to the abuser and (2) increasing victims' access to mental health services. CONCLUSION: Domestic violence is a public health crisis that affects all demographics and could result in significant morbidity and mortality. In addition to emphasizing mental health challenges faced by domestic violence victims, multidisciplinary interventions are identified that could provide timely and practical solutions to domestic violence victims amid the pandemic, which range from tailored shelter home strategies, education programs, escape plans, laws and regulations, as well as more technology-based mental health solutions. There is a significant need for more multipronged and multidisciplinary strategies to address domestic violence amid and beyond the pandemic, particularly interventions that could capitalize on the ubiquity and cost-effectiveness of technology-based solutions.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; Coronavirus; Domestic violence and abuse; Interventions; Intimate partner violence; Mental health; Pandemic; SARS-CoV-2; Violence against women
Authors: Zhaohui Su; Dean McDonnell; Ali Cheshmehzangi; Junaid Ahmad; Hengcai Chen; Sabina Šegalo; Yuyang Cai Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-03-04
Authors: Zhaohui Su; Ali Cheshmehzangi; Dean McDonnell; Hengcai Chen; Junaid Ahmad; Sabina Šegalo; Claudimar Pereira da Veiga Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-03 Impact factor: 3.390