Every third woman is exposed to violence in relationships at some point, and every tenth child grows up with violence in the home, according to the National Board of Health and Welfare.
At the same time, the authority's investigation of 60 cases where children and adults have been exposed to, for example, violence, murder, manslaughter or attempted murder, shows that both victims and perpetrators in most cases had many contacts with healthcare and social services.
With a new knowledge support for staff and managers within healthcare and dentistry, the National Board of Health and Welfare now wants to strengthen the work of detecting and supporting those exposed to violence.
The goal is that we should not miss anyone in healthcare who we can help and support who is exposed to violence, says Björn Eriksson.
Enhanced support
"A new and enhanced" knowledge support has been requested by healthcare professionals, according to Eriksson.
There has been work going on for a long time with many initiatives, but what we see is that it is not enough.
With the new support, it is clarified what type of signs healthcare professionals should react to, how to act in such situations, and how routines within the business can be strengthened.
What type of signs should one react to?
Either obvious injuries, bruises and fractures, but also symptoms like newly debuted insomnia or anxiety. It can also be behaviors such as not showing up for scheduled visits or seeking care for diffuse things that are difficult to understand, says Björn Eriksson.
Ask more times
If you see signs that suggest someone may be exposed to violence, it's about asking the question in an empathetic way and listening carefully to the answer. Often, the question needs to be asked several times for an exposed person to dare to tell.
Decisive is that organizational prerequisites are created for working with the issues, with access to education, time in the meeting with the patient, and supportive routines.
How do you view the risk that this may lead to an even greater burden for a staff group that already has a high workload?
It is entirely correct, healthcare is very burdened. That's why we are coming out with this support, so that one knows how to act and can feel secure with it, says Björn Eriksson.
The National Board of Health and Welfare mentions several signs that a person is exposed to violence – and it's not just bruises.
• Visible injuries such as fractures, torn hair, injuries in the mouth and on teeth.
• Depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
• Downplaying or denying symptoms. Cancels and fails to show up for scheduled visits.
Source: National Board of Health and Welfare
