the need

Why we need your help

Mums experiencing the trauma of intimate partner violence struggle to access long term therapy due to the prohibitive cost in the private sector and the limited availability and long waiting lists in the public health system.

statistics

1 in 3 New Zealand women experience physical and/or sexual violence from a partner in their lifetime. When psychological/emotional abuse is included, that jumps to 55% of all women.

Women subjected to physical violence by a partner are 8 times more likely to attempt suicide.

Women’s reasons for suicide after intimate partner violence include feeling worthless, feeling their situation is hopeless and feeling overwhelmed by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

Survivors of family violence surveyed in NZ have reported*:

  • The second most beneficial support (after supportive whānau and friends), for those fortunate enough to access it, was counselling or therapy.

  • The highest-ranking support needed by survivors is free or heavily subsidised, longer term counselling or therapy.

    *The Backbone Collective report on Victim-Survivor Perspectives on Longer-Term Support after Experiencing Violence and Abuse - January 2020.

 

What is intimate partner violence?

Intimate Partner Violence (or IPV) includes:

  • Physical or sexual violence

  • Psychological or emotional abuse

  • Economic abuse

  • Intimidation or harassment

  • Damage to property or pets

  • Threats of physical or sexual abuse,

towards an intimate partner. An intimate partner includes spouse, cohabitating partner, dating partner, boy or girlfriend, separated or divorced partners.

What about the kids?

By helping mum, we know their children benefit too because statistically, children growing up in homes where they experience or witness violence, or have a parent affected by trauma, are more likely to:

  • Have difficulty forming healthy and stable relationships themselves;

  • Have unstable work histories as adults;

  • Struggle with finances, family, jobs and depression throughout life; and

  • Pass these effects on to their own children.

how does counselling or therapy help?

Women who have the benefit of ongoing therapy are shown to be at less risk of:

  • Returning to their abuser

  • Suicide

  • Developing mental health disorders like depression, PTSD and substance abuse disorders

  • Their tamariki experiencing abuse, neglect and mental health disorders like PTSD.

Therapy has also been shown to have a positive effect on their:

  • mental health, self-esteem, behaviour, social connectedness and whānau relationships;

  • children through a safer, more stable and less traumatising environment.