Train, Improve, Reduce! Diminish the mental health and psychological consequences of violence against women by dismantling prejudices of law enforcement agents

Duration:

January 2011 to December 2012

Summary:

According to the Council of Europe, 45% of all women in the European Union have suffered from violence perpetrated by men, while it is estimated that every fifth woman has been subjected to domestic violence. It is therefore clear that violence against women is a grave social problem which inflicts massive psychological damage. Intimate partner violence includes acts of physical aggression, but also psychological abuse, forced intercourse and other forms of sexual coercion, controlling behaviors, isolation from friends and the restriction of access to assistance.

Unofficial data highlights the fact that a great number of women experiencing violence do not denounce their aggressors, as they feel uncomfortable speaking about what has been or is being done to them. Shame, guilt or intimidation are causing these women to keep the tales of their traumas to themselves, as victims+ often fear being either judged or not taken seriously by police officers. However, not revealing the acts of domestic violence can cause severe mental health problems for the abused women. 

The mental health aspect of intimate partner violence has already been successfully addressed in the training of general practitioners. Still, this aspect needs to be reinforced in the case of police staff, who represent the first contacts of women denouncing intimate partner violence.

Therefore, it is fundamental to raise awareness and to develop a professional knowledge of the problems involved in dealing with victims of domestic violence, and above all, the ability to perceive and respond to the victims’ mental health needs.

Professionals need to have a thorough knowledge of the problems entailed in order to provide the appropriate help, but they must also be able to draw on comprehensive resources of basic information which they can pass on to the victims.

Objectives 

• to provide cross-cultural and gender-sensitive information on the mental health aspects of violence towards women
• to develop training modules which our partners will use to train law enforcement agents who deal with abused women, promoting an adequate response to this issue.
• to promote an adequate attitude of police officers when dealing with victims of domestic abuse

 Activities and Outcomes

During the first year, we will conduct research and assess existing practices and initiatives across Europe on the consequences of domestic violence on mental health, and on the types of training police are receiving when dealing with women who are victims of domestic violence.

Based on our findings, we will develop training modules that will target law enforcement agents, helping them both understand the dynamic of domestic violence and develop the skills necessary to provide help to the victims.

During the second year of the project, our partners will conduct the said trainings in their respective countries. We will then analyze the outcomes of the training sessions, and compile a handbook which will showcase examples of good practices and provide support information that could be used for similar activities in the future. Another outcome will constitute the development of policy recommendations, which, along with the project outcomes, will be presented at the final conference in December 2012. Both the handbook and the policy recommendations will be available in seven European languages.

Lead Organization

Mental Health Europe

Partners

• AUSTRIA - Pro Mente Upper Austria
• CYPRUS - Advocacy Group for the Mentally Ill ( A.G.M.I)
•  FRANCE - Advocacy France
•  ITALY - Associazione Italiana Salute Mentale (AISMe)
• ROMANIA - The Romanian League for Mental Health
• SLOVENIA - Slovenian Association for Mental Health (ŠENT )

 Contact Person

Karina Huberman, Project Coordinator

karina.huberman@mhe-sme.org

Our kick-off meeting on March 1 brought together members from 5 European NGOs for a project presentation which resulted in some very lively discussions.