Many survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) may also be living with ongoing challenges as a result of brain injury (BI) caused by hits to the head, face, or neck and/or strangulation. It is critical that we make sure workers who come into contact with survivors are educated and equipped. This free workshop is designed to deliver training to create consistent knowledge and awareness of the hidden public health crisis of IPV-BI across Canada. This event will bring together professionals supporting survivors from a variety of sectors for connection and collaborative learning. Topics covered include an introduction to IPV-BI, including strangulation, typical signs and symptoms, recognition tools and protocols, strategies for accommodation and support, and available resources to assist support professionals in a variety of contexts. This training is made possible thanks to funding support from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Learning Objectives
At completion of this training, participants will:
- Have a foundational understanding of intimate partner violence and brain injury
- Be able to explain the prevalence of brain injury in women survivors of intimate partner violence, including how it happens, and common signs and symptoms
- Understand how commonly strangulation occurs in intimate partner violence and be able to recognize specific signs and symptoms
- Know how brain injury from intimate partner violence affects neurocognitive function, mental health and emotional wellness, and how to support survivors
- Have a basic understanding of how to take a brain injury and trauma-informed approach to interactions with survivors of brain injury in intimate partner violence
- Be equipped with tips and tools to respond to those who have experienced brain injury from intimate partner violence
Presenter Biographies
Dr. Halina (Lin) Haag (she/her) is a CIHR Fellow and Contract Faculty member with the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. Her research program is focused on the barriers and facilitating factors influencing mental health, return to work, and social integration encountered by women survivors of intimate partner violence-related brain injury (IPV-BI). Lin is committed to improving outcomes through direct practice, innovative research, and professional education, believing that increased knowledge and understanding in the community is key. She is currently a co-principal investigator on a project tasked with developing training and educational resources for key sectors supporting women experiencing IPV-BI such as healthcare, social support services, and the criminal justice system. In 2021 she www.ipvbicentre.ca info@ipvbicentre.ca was honoured to receive the Neurological Health Charities of Canada’s Changemaker Award for her work in IPV-BI. As someone with lived experience of brain injury, she has been a guest speaker addressing issues of disability, brain injury, and marginalization for a variety of international academic, professional, and community-based organizations. Her work is generously supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Post-Doctoral Fellowship.
Karen Mason is co-founder and executive director for SOAR (Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research), and former executive director of Third Space Charity and Kelowna Women’s Shelter in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. A seasoned and passionate non-profit leader, communicator, and community collaborator, Karen brings 30+ years of career experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors to her work advocating for survivors of intimate partner violence, conducting knowledge translation and mobilization activities, and supporting research, development, and dissemination of promising practices. Karen is a dynamic and compelling presenter who has training in trauma informed practice and advanced strangulation prevention, and is a member of the Pink Concussions Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury Task Force, the Women’s Health Research Cluster at University of British Columbia, and the ENIGMA International Consortium Working Group on Brain Injury in Intimate Partner Violence. SOAR is a registered charity with a singular focus on brain injury (BI) from intimate partner violence (IPV). SOAR works to explore the intersection of BI and IPV, educate members of the public and frontline workers to recognize and respond, and empower survivors to get the targeted supports and services they need to thrive.
