Helping neighbours, friends and families recognize the signs of intimate partner violence
The Nelson Police Department Victim Services team encourages everyone to learn the signs of intimate partner violence to help protect one another.
The Neighbours, Friends and Families Program is a public education campaign aimed at raising awareness about intimate partner violence, helping individuals recognize warning signs, and providing guidance on how to support those affected. The Nelson Police Department’s Victim Services team has been piloting the program since 2019 and partnered with Western University and research associate Margaret Macpherson to adapt the program for British Columbia.
The program aligns with the recommendations from the 2016 BC Coroners Service death review panel on intimate partner violence, which advocated for enhanced provincial messaging campaigns to increase public awareness of risk factors and available support services.
Through the program, Victim Services is screening a video called Relationship Violence: What Everyone Needs to Know at the annual Nelson Violence Against Women in Relationships networking meeting today (April 17) during the Prevention of Violence Against Women Week. This screening marks the beginning of the provincial rollout of the program to a wider audience. It aims to educate neighbours, friends, families, and coworkers on recognizing signs of intimate partner violence and empowering them to support those at risk.
The Neighbours, Friends and Families program was championed by the BC Society of Transition Houses and the BC RCMP.
For more information, watch the video, visit the Victim Services webpage and review this list of warning signs.