Last week, the Government of Canada announced a 10-year investment to prevent, detect and combat family violence and child abuse, just one of the many ways the Government of Canada is delivering on its commitment to stand up for victims.

Larry Maguire, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris said, “Our Government is committed to ensuring the safety of all Canadians and will continue to stand up for victims of violence. Through this investment we will be able to better support victims of violence and their children, wherever they live, so that they may heal and rebuild their lives toward a healthier future.”

Family violence is an important issue that unfortunately affects many Canadians across the country.

Long-term exposure to family violence can have devastating health effects on victims including, substance abuse, mental illness, suicidal behaviours, and chronic illnesses such as heart disease. The impacts are far reaching, affecting communities, workplaces, and society as a whole.
The investment will support victims of violence and their children through a multi-faceted approach that will:

*Better equip health professionals with the information and training they need to safely support victims of domestic violence and child abuse;

*Improve the health and well-being of victims of violence in their communities;

*Enhance access to mental health counselling for victims of violence; and

*Support and enhance organizations and partnerships that provide integrated services to victims of violence.

The investment will be administered through the Public Health Agency of Canada ($7 million/year) and Health Canada ($3 million/year), for a total of $10 million annually for the next 10 years.

This investment will cover a wide variety of programming across sectors, designed to support victims’ physical and mental well-being.  Examples may range from peer support groups to using different types of physical activity to aid in victims’ recovery and healing from violence.