A new online tool will help Albertans find resources on domestic abuse, and researchers hope it might also answer questions to make supports easier to access.
A few clicks on the Domestic Abuse Resource Hub at hub.sagesse.org delivers information on domestic violence, tailored to your responses to a few questions: whether you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, or if you’re someone who’s concerned that your own behaviour has become abusive.
The hub is operated by provincewide domestic-violence prevention organization Sagesse, and informed by research led by Stephanie Montesanti, an associate professor at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health.
Montesanti said while there are apps that can help with safety planning in domestic-violence situations, the hub is a centralized digital resource, and that’s a first for Canada. Part of what prompted the work was the turbulent shift to online supports during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the heightened concerns around domestic abuse as people had to stay at home, potentially in abusive situations, without their normal connections to their workplace and friends.
The tool was developed over a year, including focus groups with violence-prevention agencies and domestic abuse survivors.
Montesanti said the hope is that the hub can be a “one-stop shop” for credible information on domestic abuse and resources that are up to date. Sometimes, old information from domestic-violence prevention groups can still be found circulating on the web with phone numbers that are no longer used or programs that are discontinued — and that can be another barrier to getting help.
“Survivors of domestic and sexual violence or those who are at risk are often overwhelmed by the information that is available on the web when they’re seeking support,” Montesanti said.
“Especially when they’re going through a very traumatic experience such as violence or abuse, it’s difficult to assess the credibility of that information and which resource is best for them to to access.”
The tool suggests programs to explore for direct support, but it also links to articles, videos and audio recordings that cover topics like why domestic abuse victims struggle to leave, or how to recognize someone who may be experiencing domestic violence and what you can do to help. There’s also information specifically on abuse in LGBTQ communities, elder abuse, disability-related abuse and more.
Montesanti said people working at support agencies can also use the tool to help their clients connect to the right resources. The website also uses artificial intelligence and is designed to get “smarter” the more it’s used, and might also help researchers see patterns that emerge when people use it to seek help.
“We are hoping that we can better identify gaps in information … and we can make specific recommendations and guidance to the (domestic violence prevention) sector in terms of how they can best support clients,” Montesanti said.
“Survivors need that help and that support urgently, and it takes time to make sense of the diversity of information.”
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