TRURO – Sandra Falle hopes some misconceptions about family violence will be shed next week.
The executive director of the Third Place Transition House is hopeful Family Violence Prevention Week, which begins on Sunday, will educate the community on the topic as well as help people facing family violence issues.
“It is an issue in our community,” said Falle. “The purpose is to make the general public more aware and to let anyone involved in family violence know that there is help.
“We want to get the word out that it is a serious issue and help is out there for everyone. Even one case is serious (and) you never know when it will result in catastrophe or death. We hope to get to people before that happens.”
Falle said there are a number of misconceptions concerning the topic of family violence. It’s often thought that the victim is low-income … or that it’s the victim’s fault, and that’s just not the case, said Falle.
Another inaccuracy is that drugs and alcohol cause family violence, said Falle.
“It can make it worse but it’s not the cause. Family violence is about power and control ... and sometimes it’s generational,” Falle said, adding it’s often forgotten that men can be victims as well.
The executive director reminds people that family violence takes place in many forms including physical, psychological, emotional, financial, senior abuse and verbal.
Falle said getting the information out to the public will hopefully make a positive difference.
“Even if it provides information for one person to come forward it’s helped.”
Cpl. Addie MacCallum of the Colchester RCMP agrees. MacCallum told the Truro Daily News members of the RCMP, social services, Red Cross and others will participate in checkpoints on Tuesday and Thursday in Bible Hill and surrounding areas.
“We will hand out cards (on family violence). Anything helps increase the attention. Education is the other part of enforcement,” said MacCallum.
He said although he couldn’t provide specific statistics for the number of family violence occurrences the police investigate locally, he said “it’s a definite concern.”
“It doesn’t go away. Sometimes we could have 10 occurrences a week. It’s not uncommon,” MacCallum said.
