From: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
Date published: 12/6/2024 10:00:00 AM | Date modified: 12/6/2024 10:00:00 AM
Canada can end its gender-based violence epidemic if people learn to recognize the signs, says clinical psychologist Katrina Scott.
Photo: Fat Camera
It remains one of the darkest days in Canadian history. December 6, 1989, a man armed with a semi-automatic hunting rifle entered Montreal’s École Polytechnique, shooting 27 people. He killed 14 young women before taking his own life. His reason, outlined in a suicide note: they were women.
December 6 is now Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
“We’re going in the wrong direction and I’m done with it. Enough is enough,” says Katreena Scott, clinical psychologist, professor and academic director of the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children (CREVAWC) at Western University and Canada Research Chair in Ending Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. A member of the Ontario Office of the Chief Coroner’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee (DVDRC), Scott reviews intimate partner violence deaths and recommends systemic changes to prevent the same types of events from happening again.
She finds many recommendations are repeatedly ignored. That leaves her frustrated.
“We know these deaths don’t come out of the blue. In 70% of these cases, there are seven or more well-known risk factors for domestic homicides,” says Scott. “Despite report after report outlining what needs to happen, we’re stuck starting over. It’s like we’re on repeat.”
Society framing domestic violence as a private issue, she says, hinders the collective action that’s needed to create meaningful change.
Dr. Scott’s research reiterates the importance of seeing, naming and addressing the signs of gender-based violence in breaking its cycle.
Scott compares domestic violence awareness to cardiovascular health, saying most people recognize the signs of a heart attack and how to respond. By contrast, she says, people still don’t know domestic violence’s risk factors, the next steps, or what help is available.
“If someone says they’re having shortness of breath, you would ask them about it and offer advice” Scott explains. “We still think of domestic violence as a private issue. Instead, we should be opening the door to a conversation.”
The Neighbours, Friends and Families “See it, Name it, Check it” (PDF, 318 KB) framework freely available through CREVAWC, educates people to recognize signs of unhealthy relationships, express concerns, and ensure safety. Yet, Scott says professionals—law enforcement, health-care workers, mental health and substance use providers, HR professionals and more—still lack proper training to recognize and respond to domestic violence risk factors, including suicidality, which is a top-10 risk factor for domestic homicide. It’s a knowledge gap she considers critical.
Scott’s research, along with the work of her colleagues and collaborators at CREVAWC, has driven major policy changes in Canada. Their advocacy influenced amendments to Canada’s Divorce Act, requiring courts to consider a child’s exposure to domestic violence when determining the child’s best interests. CREVAWC also spearheaded legislative changes to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, mandating employer intervention in domestic violence cases.
Knowledge translation projects at CREVAWC are helping ensure that these changes make it into practice.
“Upskilling and upscaling the workforce to be able to intervene to prevent domestic violence and its escalation is part of the solution,” she adds.
Scott also works on developing and evaluating new approaches to gender-based violence prevention and intervention. In 2002, she founded Caring Dads, a program to help abusive fathers change harmful behaviours. While the program has gained international recognition and adoption, its expansion in Canada is hindered by inconsistent funding—another example of fragmented responses to intimate partner violence.
Scott has also been leading research on Western’s innovative work to prevent sexual violence. In her research, she consistently brings together academic, practice and survivor expertise across all fields.
“Domestic violence isn’t just a justice issue or a health issue—it intersects with every sector,” says Scott. “We need coordinated responses and investments in evidence-based interventions tailored to different levels of risk.”
As the daughter of a child protection worker and a child clinical psychologist herself, Scott is committed to ensuring children’s safety by addressing violence within families.
On December 6, she wishes we could mark progress, not urgency.
“This isn’t a hopeless problem,” she says. “We have the tools to end domestic violence. The question is: Why haven’t we acted?”
Scott says provinces and different levels could act now by uniting to create a centre of knowledge and a suite of proven programs that address violence and risks at different points in a relationship.
By bridging research, advocacy and policy, Scott is striving to create a legacy where every woman, child and family can live free from violence. Her message is clear: the time for action is now.
Check out Katreena Scott’s Impact Project on how to identify and address gender-based violence. You can also find out more about the research projects at CREVAWC.
