Intimate partner violence
Intimate partner violence (IPV), commonly known as spousal abuse or domestic violence, is physical, psychological or sexual harm done to a person by their spouse or partner. IPV is a serious public health issue globally and research suggests that it may be a particularly common issue in military and Veteran Families.
This webpage contains informational resources for Veterans and Veteran Families, researchers and service providers.
To participate in or learn more about our recruiting studies about IPV in Veteran communities, visit this page.
If you are in danger, call 911. (Nunavut: contact your local RCMP detachment)
Resources
The following resources provide an overview of IPV. These resources have been co-designed with an advisory committee that includes Veterans and Veteran Family members, as well as service providers working with Veteran Families.
Videos
Accessibility features: Closed captioning and descriptive transcripts are available for these videos. To enable closed captioning, select CC in the bottom-right of the video player. For the descriptive transcript, select “View video transcript” to display the transcript in a dropdown.
Note: The content in these videos may be triggering for some audiences. See Resources for those experiencing IPV for a list of supports and services available in Canada.
What is intimate partner violence?
This video provides an overview of the different types of intimate partner violence: physical violence, sexual violence and psychological aggression.
[Content warning: This video includes content that may be difficult to watch for some audiences. To find supports and resources, visit atlasveterans.ca/intimate-partner-violence.]
[Video begins in monochrome. Text appears on the screen: INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. IPV.]
(Narrator) Intimate partner violence or IPV…
[Three icons appear: a closed first, a woman covering her face with her hands, multiple hands touching the body of a woman who has her arms crossed.]
(Narrator) …is physical, psychological or sexual harm done to a person by their partner or spouse.
[Silhouettes of a diverse community of people appear. The image slowly zooms in to reveal the faces and clothing details of three military and Veteran couples standing side by side.]
(Narrator) IPV can be perpetrated and experienced by anyone, but research shows it may be particularly common among military and Veteran communities.
[An imposing silhouette points its finger at a woman. As the silhouette grows larger, the woman’s head lowers.]
(Narrator) Understanding IPV can help you recognize when you or someone you know is experiencing it…
[The woman’s head raises with her eyebrows furrowed.]
(Narrator) …which is the first step to protecting yourself and others.
[Text appears: DIFFERENT TYPES OF IPV. PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.]
(Narrator) Here is an overview of some different types of IPV.
[The text becomes: PHYSICAL VIOLENCE. A large shadow of a hand reaches towards the woman with her arms in front of her.]
(Narrator) Physical violence is purposely using force to inflict pain or injury.
[The hand disappears. A lock suspended by a string drops down in front of the woman. The lock is replaced by multiple speech and text bubbles with random symbols. As they emerge, the woman turns her head away fearfully.]
(Narrator) This can include restraining someone without consent or persuading someone through threats and intimidation to act violently.
[Text appears: SEXUAL VIOLENCE.]
(Narrator) Sexual violence…
[The woman stands with her arms crossed. Hands start touching her body. Her head turns from side to side in discomfort.]
(Narrator) … consists of any sexual actions committed or attempted without consent. This can include tricking or forcing someone to have sex.
[The hands move away from the woman’s body.]
(Narrator) Sexual violence doesn’t have to involve touch.
[A web browser showing a pixellated image and a phone appear. Text messages and a pixellated image are exchanged on the phone.]
(Narrator) Showing and sharing sexual photos and videos without consent and verbal sexual harassment are also sexual violence.
[Text appears: STALKING. The screen is filled with eyes surrounding the woman who looks side to side at them.]
(Narrator) Stalking is repeated unwanted attention that causes someone to fear for their safety.
[The eyes disappear and the screen zooms into the woman’s upper body with her arms folded across her chest and her head down. A phone, a laptop and binoculars with eyes on the screens and lenses surround the woman’s head.]
(Narrator) This can happen over the phone, online, or in person.
[The woman holds a wrapped present that is on fire. The silhouette of a human figure with a looming shadow approaches the woman from behind.]
(Narrator) Stalking includes giving unwanted gifts, following from a distance…
[The image begins to crack like glass. The glass shatters.]
(Narrator) … and threatening or actually harming someone’s loved ones or property.
[Text appears: PSYCHOLOGICAL AGGRESSION.]
[The woman stands with her hands clasped in front of her. Multiple speech bubbles pop up around the woman. The woman cries.]
(Narrator) Psychological aggression is hurtful verbal communication. This can include insults, humiliation, threats of violence and gaslighting…
[A text bubble appears above the woman as she looks towards it. The bubble reads: YOU’RE OVERREACTING. I NEVER SAID THAT.]
(Narrator) … which means misleading someone into doubting their own sense of reality.
[Text appears: COERCIVE CONTROL. The woman drops down as a marionette controlled by a large fist.]
(Narrator) Coercive control is any behaviour used to gain control over someone by threatening or intimidating them.
[A key, a map pin, a long-sleeved shirt and a clock dangle down on strings around the woman.]
(Narrator) This can include monitoring and controlling someone’s everyday actions, such as where they can go, what they can wear or when they can sleep.
[Two houses with picket fences and trees appear.]
(Narrator) IPV can also affect a person’s life outside the relationship.
[A credit card and text appear: ECONOMIC INSECURITY.]
(Narrator) Economic insecurity.
[A pair of scissors snips the credit card in half, revealing the woman standing behind.]
(Narrator) Perpetrators may restrict their partner’s access to money…
[A frame of a house with prison-like bars drops down over the woman. She folds her arms across her chest.]
(Narrator) … or prevent their partners from working in order to keep them financially independent.
[A silhouette of a roof and a smoky chimney appear above the text: HOUSING INSTABILITY.]
(Narrator) Housing instability.
[The scene transitions downwards, revealing more of the house and the woman with her hands clasped and head lowered standing within it. The house melts into a puddle beneath the woman.]
(Narrator) People experiencing IPV are likely to also face housing instability and homelessness.
[The scene zooms out with text appearing above the woman: SOCIAL ISOLATION.]
(Narrator) Social isolation.
[A circular shadow grows around the woman with people gradually appearing on the screen outside the growing shadow.]
(Narrator) Perpetrators often distance their partners from friends and Family to hide evidence of the abuse.
[Speech and thought bubbles pop up for each person outside the circular shadow.]
(Narrator) This can be done by spreading lies and gossip, and by monitoring whom their partner can see.
[The scene changes to the woman crouching forward, carrying a black block on her back.]
(Narrator) No matter what form it takes, IPV has serious harmful impacts on the person facing it…
[The image slowly zooms out as more blocks are added to the woman’s back.]
(Narrator) … including physical injury, mental health conditions, problematic substance use and self-harm.
[The scene zooms into the woman’s face. The screen turns black.]
(Narrator) IPV can also result in death.
[The woman rises upwards, standing on hands of various skin tones lifting her up. Colour is added to the video showing the woman in an orange top, blue pants and green shoes. She smiles and nods.]
(Narrator) If you think you are experiencing IPV, know that you’re not alone and that you deserve help.
[The logo for the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families and the URL atlasveterans.ca/intimate-partner-violence appear.]
(Narrator) Visit the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families website to learn more about IPV and the types of support available in Canada.
[The Government of Canada and “Funded by Veterans Affairs Canada” logo appear.]
[The work of the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families is made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada.
Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed are solely those of the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families and may not reflect the views and opinions of the Government of Canada.]
[If you need support:
Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services
Family Information Line
Call 1-800-866-4546 (available 24-7) | 00-800-771-17722 (international)
Veterans Affairs Canada
VAC Assistance Services
Call 1-800-286-7708 | TDD/TTY 1-800-567-5803 (available 24-7)
Canadian Armed Forces
Member and Family Assistance Services
Call 1-800-286-7708 | TDD/TTY 1-800-567-5803 (available 24-7)
Dial 911 in case of emergency
For more resources, visit atlasveterans.ca/intimate-partner-violence]
[If you need support:
Crisis Services Canada
Call 1-833-456-4566 (available 24-7)
Text 45645 (available 4 p.m. to midnight, Eastern time)
Quebec residents: Call 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)
Hope for Wellness Helpline for all Indigenous Peoples
Call 1-855-242-3310 (available 24-7)
Dial 911 in case of emergency
For more resources, visit atlasveterans.ca/intimate-partner-violence]
[Logo for Researching the Impact of Service Provider Education (RISE) appears.]
Barriers to seeking help for intimate partner violence
This video highlights some potential barriers to seeking help for IPV in military, Veteran and Veteran Family communities.
[Content warning: This video includes content that may be difficult to watch for some audiences. To find support and resources, visit atlasveterans.ca/intimate-partner-violence.]
[Text appears: INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. IPV.]
(Narrator) Intimate partner violence, or IPV, has many serious impacts.
[Illustrations of four people appear, drawn without faces. From left to right, there is a white woman with a braid, a bearded Latino man, an elderly Black woman and a white man. All of them are in sad, defeated poses with their heads turned down.]
(Narrator) But Veteran Family members can struggle to recognize or accept when they are experiencing it.
[The four people become darkened silhouettes and shrink as a group towards the bottom of the screen. At the same time, three dark silhouettes representing the military and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) rise on block towers, looming over the group. ]
(Narrator) This may be because there are cultural aspects of the military and RCMP that can perpetuate IPV and make it difficult for someone to seek help. Here are some of these barriers.
[Text appears: WARRIOR MINDSET.]
(Narrator) Warrior mindset.
[Two people’s hands clutch each other while arm wrestling.]
(Narrator) Toughing it out is highly valued in military and RCMP cultures…
[The scene transitions to show a woman clasping her hands in front of her chest. The shadow of a tall, muscular man looms beside her. A phone buzzes on the table beside the woman and she turns to look at it, unsure whether to pick up the call.]
(Narrator) … which creates a stigma around getting help.
[A series of three framed photos hanging on a wall slide across the screen. In one photo, the woman, her Veteran husband and their baby stand beside a Canadian flag. In another, the young Family is standing in front of their house. In the third photo, the Veteran husband poses with members of his military squad. A plaque above these photos reads: FAMILY, THE STRENGTH BEHIND THE UNIFORM.]
(Narrator) Veteran Family members may feel that seeking support for IPV can risk their identity as members of a broader military and RCMP Family and may even face pressure against doing so from others in their community.
[Text appears: POWER IMBALANCE.]
(Narrator) Power imbalance.
[A certificate of Canadian military service and five military medals displayed in a glass frame slide into view. As the camera slowly zooms out, a same-sex male couple appears viewing the display.]
(Narrator) Members of the military and RCMP earn a place of high esteem within their communities due to the sacrifices they make during their careers.
[The background darkens and the display fades away. The men slowly turn towards each other. The man on the left representing the Veteran partner grows in size and stature, while his partner on the right shrinks in size.]
(Narrator) This may lead Family members to reduce their own self-worth in relation to their Veteran partner, setting the stage for a power imbalance that carries the potential for abuse.
[Text appears: OBEDIENCE TO AUTHORITY.]
(Narrator) Obedience to authority.
[Two military officers stand facing each other. A male officer salutes his female superior and says with a speech bubble: YES MA’AM! The female officer salutes back.]
(Narrator) In military and RCMP culture, obedience is a virtue.
[The male officer lowers his arm and then the female officer lowers her arm.]
(Narrator) It isn’t considered appropriate to question authority.
[The scene cuts to show the male officer wearing civilian clothing facing his woman partner, who is also in civilian clothing. The woman furiously points her finger at the man, while angry speech bubbles filled with random characters and symbols appear.]
(Narrator) This can create a taboo around challenging or defying a Veteran partner who is acting violently.
[Text appears: POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND VIOLENCE.]
(Narrator) Post-traumatic stress disorder and violence.
[The camera shows a close-up of an elderly man with a glowing, orange orb floating in his head. Text appears above the man: POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. Letters fade out to spell PTSD.]
(Narrator) Because Veterans commonly experience post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD…
[The elderly man repeatedly bangs his cane in front of his female partner, who cowers while holding her hands up.]
(Narrator) … Veterans and their Families may believe violence is a natural consequence of this mental health condition.
[The scene zooms to focus on the woman sighing, while squiggles float around her head. The squiggles disappear and she buries her face in her hands.]
(Narrator) Family members may feel guilty and ashamed for recognizing that they’re being abused for wanting to leave the relationship or for wanting to seek support.
[The scene transitions to show the elderly man repeatedly banging his cane while the glowing, orange orb floats in his head. A silhouette of the man slides to the left, bringing the glowing orb along with it. The silhouette, which does not move, is labelled PTSD. On the right, the man continues to bang his cane.]
(Narrator) However, PTSD or any other mental health condition doesn’t excuse or justify violence.
[Text and symbol appear: PTSD, an arrow pointing to the right with two diagonal lines across it, ABUSE.]
(Narrator) Mental health conditions do not cause someone to be abusive.
[Text appears: VIOLENCE IS A CHOICE.]
(Narrator) Violence is a choice.
[The four IPV perpetrators from previous scenes appear. From left to right, there is a tall, muscular man standing with closed fists, a man with his arms crossed, a female angrily pointing her finger and an elderly man banging his cane.]
(Narrator) Ultimately, everyone is responsible for their own behaviour, and no one deserves abuse.
[The four couples are shown one by one, in succession, speaking calmly to each other with speech bubbles.]
(Narrator) To maintain a healthy, intimate relationship, it’s important that Veterans and their Families choose to navigate conflicts in a safe, mutually respectful way.
[The four people experiencing intimate partner violence in earlier scenes appear. From left to right, there is a white woman with a braid, a bearded Latino man, an elderly Black woman and a white man. All of them are in sad, defeated poses with their heads turned down.]
(Narrator) If you think you are experiencing IPV…
[As the four people turn towards the camera, their facial features fade into view. They are all wearing hopeful expressions.]
(Narrator) … know that you’re not alone, and that you deserve help.
[Logo for the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families and the URL atlasveterans.ca/intimate-partner-violence appear.]
(Narrator) Visit the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families website to learn more about IPV and the types of support available in Canada.
[The Government of Canada and “Funded by Veterans Affairs Canada” logo appear.]
[The work of the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families is made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada.
Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed are solely those of the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families and may not reflect the views and opinions of the Government of Canada.]
[If you need support:
Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services
Family Information Line
Call 1-800-866-4546 (available 24-7) | 00-800-771-17722 (international)
Veterans Affairs Canada
VAC Assistance Services
Call 1-800-286-7708 | TDD/TTY 1-800-567-5803 (available 24-7)
Canadian Armed Forces
Member and Family Assistance Services
Call 1-800-286-7708 | TDD/TTY 1-800-567-5803 (available 24-7)
Dial 911 in case of emergency
For more resources, visit atlasveterans.ca/intimate-partner-violence]
[If you need support:
Crisis Services Canada
Call 1-833-456-4566 (available 24-7)
Text 45645 (available 4 p.m. to midnight, Eastern time)
Quebec residents: Call 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)
Hope for Wellness Helpline for all Indigenous Peoples
Call 1-855-242-3310 (available 24-7)
Dial 911 in case of emergency
For more resources, visit atlasveterans.ca/intimate-partner-violence]
[Logo for Researching the Impact of Service Provider Education (RISE) appears.]
Canadian services and resources for those experiencing IPV
If you or someone you know is experiencing IPV, know that you are not alone and that you deserve help.
The following resource lists some supports and services available in Canada that can help keep you and your Family safe, provide more information about IPV and/or provide crisis support.
Resources for people experiencing intimate partner violence
Advisory committee
The Atlas Institute gives special thanks to the following individuals for participating in the project’s advisory committee and co-designing the preceding resources with our staff. The names listed include only those of individuals who consented to have their names appear on the Atlas Institute website.
Research
The following resources summarize findings from research supported by the Atlas Institute.
What is the prevalence of intimate partner violence among military and Veteran populations?
Intimate partner violence in military and Veteran populations: A systematic review of population-based surveys and population screening studies
Health service interventions for intimate partner violence among military personnel and Veterans: A framework and scoping review
Evidence Brief: Intimate partner violence
Quick facts about IPV
- Although IPV is a significant public health issue globally, research suggests it may be particularly common among serving members of the military and Veteran Families.
- A recent review of available research related to IPV among serving members of the military and Veterans found that one in eight (13%) of those surveyed reported using violence in their intimate relationships, and one in five (21%) reported experiencing violence in their intimate relationships.
- In 2021, over 114,000 Canadians aged 12 years and older reported experiencing IPV to police.
- This is a 2% increase in reports since 2021 and a 4% increase since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Anyone can perpetrate or experience IPV. However, most of the available research reports IPV experienced by women. Available evidence also suggests that women may experience more severe IPV than men.
- Someone’s experience of IPV can vary based on:
- Gender identity
- Physical and/or mental health and abilities
- Sexual orientation
- Culture
- Nationality
- Where they live
- Socioeconomic status
These factors can also have an impact on someone’s ability to report IPV and receive support.
IPV-related terms
Perpetrator: Someone who acts violently toward an intimate partner.
Physical violence: Any use of force that causes harm, including but not limited to pushing, hitting, throwing things and choking.
Psychological aggression: Using threats and intimidation to diminish a person’s sense of self and well-being and/or control their behaviour. This can include isolating a person from Family and friends, monitoring their movements and restricting their access to money.
- Gaslighting: A form of psychological aggression that causes someone to doubt their sense of reality.
Sexual violence: Any sexual activity that occurs or is attempted without consent. This can include tricking or forcing someone to have sex, showing or sharing sexual videos without consent and verbal sexual harassment.
Breiding, M.J., Basile, K.C., Smith, S.G., Black, M.C., & Mahendra, R. (2015). Intimate partner violence surveillance: uniform definitions and recommended data elements. Version 2.0. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/31292
Cowlishaw, S., Freijah, I., Kartal, D., Sbisa, A., Mulligan, A., Notarianni, M., Couineau, A-L.., Forbes, D., O’Donnell, M., Phelps. A., Iverson, K.M., Heber, A., O’Dwyer, C., Smith, P., & Hosseiny, F. (2022). Intimate partner violence (IPV) in military and Veteran populations: A systematic review of population-based surveys and and population screening studies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14), 8853.
Government of Canada. (2022, February) Fact sheet: Intimate partner violence.
women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/gender-based-violence/intimate-partner-violence.html
Government of Canada. (2019, July). Abuse: Barriers experienced by victims of abuse. canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/abuse/barriers.html
Heidinger, L. (2021, May). Intimate partner violence: Experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit women in Canada, 2018. Statistics Canada. www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2021001/article/00007-eng.htm
Kwan, J., Sparrow, K., Facer-Irwin, E., Thandi, G., Fear, N.T., & Macmanus, D. (2020). Prevalence of intimate partner violence perpetration among military populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Aggression and Violent Behaviour, 53, 101419.
Macmanus, D., Short, R., Lane, R., Jones, M., Hull, L., Howard, L.M., & Fear, N.T. (2022). Intimate partner violence and abuse experience and perpetration in UK military personnel compared to a general population cohort: A cross-sectional study. The Lancet Regional Health — Europe, 20, 100448.
Moffitt, P., Aujla, W., Giesbrecht, C.J., Grant, I., & Straatman, A-L. (2020). Intimate partner violence and COVID-19 in rural, remote, and northern Canada: Relationship, vulnerability, and risk. Journal of Family Violence, 37(5), 775-786.
Savage, L. (2021, April). Intimate partner violence: Experiences of women with disabilities in Canada, 2018. Statistics Canada. www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2021001/article/00006-eng.htm
Scott-Storey, K., O’Donnell, S., Ford-Gilboe, M., Varcoe, C., Wathen, N., Malcolm, J., & Vincent, C. (2023). What about the men? A critical review of men’s experiences of intimate partner violence. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(2), 858-872.
Skomorovsky, A., & Leblanc, M.M. (2017). Intimate partner violence in the Canadian Armed Forces: Psychological distress and the role of individual factors among military spouses. Military Medicine, 1568-1575.
Statistics Canada. (2022, October). Victims of police-reported family and intimate partner violence in Canada, 2021. www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221019/dq221019c-eng.htm
