Concussions are the leading cause of brain injury in Canada.
Many are the result of sporting activities. However another leading cause of concussions is intimate partner violence.
That has led the YWCA to partner up with former NHLer Trevor Linden to highlight the shocking rate of concussion from domestic violence.
Dawn Bailey, a project manager with the YWCA St. Thomas Elgin, tells myFM what she hopes will be the impact of this campaign.
Locally, the YWCA’s National Emergency Survivor Support Fund provides one-time financial support to survivors of gender-based violence to help them leave abusive living conditions, emergency shelters or precarious living situations.
Bailey stresses there is a need for further research into concussions and funding to support that research.
According to Statistics Canada, every 6 days a woman in this country loses her life to gender-based violence.
Bailey talks of the importance of housing in the domestic violence equation.
Gender-based violence can be a contributing factor in cases of housing insecurity, adds Bailey.
Lengthy wait lists and extremely high rents are aggravating the housing picture, highlighting the importance of community partnerships.
Bailey stresses the YWCA can assist financially with counselling in cases of domestic violence.
For information on the National Emergency Survivor Support Fund (the NESS Fund), visit The NESS Fund | YWCA St. Thomas – Elgin (ywcaste.ca)
Written by Ian McCallum
