Lisa Banfield’s visit to psychologist opens debate about how to help abuse victims

A psychologist was among several people who knew the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooter had abused his spouse, but intimate partner violence is not covered by mandatory reporting laws for the profession in Canada.

Even if that rule were in effect and the abuse had been reported to the police, experts working with domestic violence survivors in the province say bringing in law enforcement often makes these situations worse.

“Even for things that require reporting, there isn’t enough support,” said Kristina Fifield, trauma therapist at the Avalon Sexual Assault Center in Halifax.

“Unfortunately it does not work.”

Lisa Banfield had a relationship with Gabriel Wortman for 19 years before he attacked her on the night of April 18, 2020 in Portapique and started a killing spree that left 22 people dead and several homes destroyed.

Through Banfield’s interviews with police, the Mass Casualty Commission, which led the public inquiry, and her testimony a month ago, she described the extensive physical and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of the shooter.

She said Wortman repeatedly put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her or her family if she ever left him.

The only time Banfield said she sought help about the abuse was when she saw a psychologist in Bedford, according to a letter she wrote to the commission. She did not say when this happened.

The therapist “supported me and encouraged me to leave Gabriel,” she said, telling Banfield that she was in an abusive relationship. But when the shooter found out Banfield was seeing a pro, she said he made her stop.

“I knew he would beat me up if I didn’t. He threatened to confront the doctor. I was trapped,” Banfield said.

Fifield, who is also Avalon’s representative in a coalition with other women’s groups involved in the inquiry, said she was happy to see Banfield had a safe space to feel supported, if only for a short time.

In Nova Scotia, psychologists are required to report abuse of children or certain adults, including at-risk seniors, but not intimate partner violence.

Helping people in abusive relationships is a complex and often lengthy process, Fifield said, and requires a lot of trust — something that could be lost if a victim knew their case was being reported to the police.

“That’s going to limit the conversation, that’s going to create a situation where a person isn’t going to … discuss what’s important and what their needs are,” Fifield said.

Some medical professions in NS, including physicians, have a duty to report when a patient comes in with injuries from a knife or gunshot. psychologists don’t.

This sometimes means victims of domestic violence with such injuries are reported to police, Fifield said, particularly in rural areas of the province where more people keep guns at home.

But Fifield said she’s heard many stories from women – the most common victims of intimate partner violence – that they are “not taken seriously” when police respond, or that they could be blamed for the situation.

Fifield said she’s also met people who have been told their behavior suggests they’re not “sacrificing enough” – which is “very, very damaging”.

In cases where police believe there is insufficient evidence to take an accused person into custody, the offender can return home, putting the victim at greater risk, she said.

A Portapique neighbor, Brenda Forbes, has repeatedly said that she reported the gunman’s abuse of Banfield to RCMP in 2013. But the Mountie, who took Forbes’ complaint, told the inquest that she hadn’t mentioned anything about domestic violence, only that the gunman drove aggressively around the community.

The best way to help people in these situations is to create a safety plan and help them navigate their options, Fifield said. This could include staying with a family member or waiting until a space becomes available in the nearest transitional home or shelter.

“Often the grants aren’t available because they’re so underfunded,” Fifield said.

Better coordination needed between services: Fifield

Ideally, anyone in an abusive relationship would be surrounded by a team of service providers working together to make sure no one falls through the cracks, Fifield said.

That would be similar to a strategy called “warm referral,” which takes away the uncertainty and stress for victims of finding resources, according to information from McMaster University School of Nursing. With this type of referral, the provider schedules appointments for the patient, including transportation and follow-up appointments.

“There needs to be fewer silos that exist between all these organizations that provide gender-based violence and intimate partner violence support,” Fifield said.

Simon Sherry, a psychologist and professor at Dalhousie University, agreed that properly funded support is the first step.

He said what’s missing is a provincial initiative that would coordinate services like social work, police and mental health to share valuable information.

“There is no common database. There is no real communication. I wouldn’t even necessarily know what the police might or might not know or what a community leader might or might not know,” Sherry said.

“You need a government-led approach that involves real timelines and real means.”

Documents released as part of the investigation have shown that the shooter had been reported to police for threats and possession of illegal weapons in 2010 and 2011, alongside Forbes’ 2013 complaint – information that contributed to this could get a full picture of what Banfield faced at home.

Exceptions are imminent threats to life

Fifield noted that there are some exceptions to confidentiality, such as B. an imminent threat to a person’s life. In the event of danger or self-endangerment, the police and, if necessary, the mobile crisis team would be notified.

Sherry agreed that this type of threat would require alerting a third party to avoid harm, but not necessarily police involvement.

The province’s Standing Together initiative, which brings government and community organizations together to prevent domestic violence, received $1.8 million in 2019-2020 across 80 programs. Temporary homes were also additionally funded by the state and federal governments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nicole Hersey, a spokeswoman for the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women, said community, government and criminal justice agencies work together on cases to “provide comprehensive services and support to victims, offenders and their families.”

They wrote that the province is constantly improving our systems to ensure “everyone has the information and support they need to respond to complex cases more quickly and effectively.”

• If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence, call or text 1-855-225-0220 for Nova Scotia’s toll-free hotline that offers support and services.
• Find a transitional home or shelter for abused women near you through thans.ca.
• Call 211 for resources in your area or to connect with male, female, or all gender hotlines.
• In an emergency situation, call 911.