Consequences of COVID-19 for victims of domestic violence in calls to the Finnish national Nollalinja helpline

Abstract

Domestic violence (DV) is a serious social and global problem and a human rights violation, and DV is exacerbated during periods of social crisis. This study elucidates how COVID-19 has affected life circumstances, changes in experienced violence, and seeking and receiving help through public services, using data from calls placed to the national Nollalinja helpline. The data are based on anonymous Nollalinja service tracking from April 2020 to December 2020. During that period, Nollalinja encountered 170 COVID-19 related DV calls. We identified four themes in the relationship between DV and COVID-19: (1) isolation and strained conditions; (2) escalation of violence; (3) difficulties and prolongation to seek help; (4) difficulties and prolongation obtaining help. The results were also interpreted by using an ecological model. At the individual level, COVID-19 and its associated restrictions affected emotions and increased problems. At the relationship level, the consequences were noticeably more time spent with the perpetrator of DV, increased exposure to the violence, and decreased opportunities to obtain help. At the community level, the consequences were prolongation and difficulties obtaining help. At the societal level, the restrictive measures and recommendations to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 increased the severity of DV in society at large. These results highlight important observations about points of weakness in the services during the pandemics. These findings can be used to help improve the training for professionals, services and the provision of aid for victims of DV during and after the social crisis.