Supporting IPV Survivors: Experiences, Services, and Needs

In Québec, intrafamilial homicides account for 29.5% of all homicides, with the majority being cases of domestic violence-related killings by men of their female (ex)partners (MSP, 2023). Coercive control is a prevalent dynamic in these cases. Retrospective reviews reveal that many women sought help before their murder, underscoring the need to understand and address their help-seeking experiences. Our research focuses on the often-neglected needs of survivors and their close ones, especially during the post-separation period, emphasizing self-determination and the ability to protect themselves and their loved ones.

This study aims to reveal the complex psycho-socio-judicial needs of survivors and their close ones in the post-separation period, highlighting their help-seeking strategies. It aspires to enhance understanding of self-determination and agency, underrepresented aspects in the domestic violence literature, with the goal of improving comprehension of coercive control and domestic violence dynamics.

We conducted in-depth interviews with survivors of near femicide and proxies of women killed. Data was collected from the Canadian Initiative for the Prevention of Domestic Homicides, focusing on Indigenous, rural, immigrant, and child-exposed populations. Using 26 interviews from Québec, we employed a narrative research framework, probing participants on their help-seeking experiences, barriers, and reflections on their journeys.

Phenomenological analysis was used to interpret the intimate experiences of individuals, ensuring methodological rigor through open-ended, narrative interviews.The author brings a unique perspective, combining personal and professional experiences in the field of domestic violence, offering sensitivity and empathy to survivors’narratives.

The research aims to illuminate the post-violence journeys of survivors and to influence interventions and policies. By identifying specific needs and examining self-determination strategies, this study proposes a framework for improving support systems and for creating more effective public policies. The ultimate goal is to provide essential information to strengthen the protection and support of survivors of attempted femicide and their close ones.