DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — FACTFILE

Experts agree that only a small percentage of domestic abuse cases are ever reported — and the problem is more widespread than many people realise.

"This is something that affects everybody in society. I've had wives of executives and Police officers. There's no societal or cultural or racial boundaries. I've had them all," explained Arleen Swan, executive director of the Physical Abuse Centre.

From data shared with her by the Police, more than half of calls every week are related to domestic abuse.

The Women's Resource Centre helps more than 200 people every year and gets more than 200 callers to its hotline — many from victims of domestic abuse.

It provides counselling and support, advice on legal measures such as domestic violence protection orders, and referrals to the Physical Abuse Centre safe house.

The safe house is the only one of its kind in Bermuda, and more than 2000 people have been sheltered there since it opened in 1979.

In addition, staff at the Physical Abuse Centre Staff also field roughly 100 phone calls for advice each month.

According to consultant psychologist Susan Adhemar, 98 percent of domestic violence victims are women. "The odd case that occurs against males is retaliation. It's usually in defence of being attacked themselves. It's not often that women will be the perpetrators of violence" she said.

She also claimed that, according to overseas research, up to one in three men may commit abuse at some point in their lives. This is categorised as ranging from put-downs and name-calling through to punching, choking and sexual assault.

Thirty percent of marriages are considered to be physically aggressive, and forty percent of emergency treatment for women is as a direct result of domestic violence, said Dr. Adhemar.

According to Kathy Harriott, executive director and clinical supervisor of the Women's Resource Centre, symptoms — apart from the injuries inflicted — range from depression, anxiety and sleeplessness to physical complaints that manifest themselves as a result of emotional distress. Some victims over-eat and distance themselves from friends and family.

Their reasons for staying with their violent partner are just as varied.

"Because they love them," said Ms Harriott. "For financial reasons, especially in Bermuda with the housing situation. It may be religious beliefs or pressure from their church: 'if you're married you're going to stay that way'. There's also social pressure. We're a society that tends to think people should be coupled. There's also fear. When a woman leaves a relationship, that's the most likely time that she's going to die. She's more likely to be killed if she leaves than if she stays."

Dr. Adhemar has conducted clinical research into post-traumatic stress experienced by battered women. She also conducts police training — and believes the introduction of a zero-tolerance approach to such violence is necessary.

"This is an area of complex trauma which does not get adequately addressed in Bermuda. Even the police are left up to their own subjective judgements when attending the scene of abuse," she said.

She believes that a zero tolerance stance would encourage more programmes for the successful rehabilitation of victims and their children, as well as offenders.

She hopes the case of Andrina Smith — convicted of manslaughter on Monday for killing her allegedly violent boyfriend — will also prompt women to get the help they need.

"Hopefully they'll take action sooner, and the legal fraternity and police and emergency services will all look at their policies and see what they can do in future to stop this tragedy, because nobody should die in these cases," said Dr. Adhemar.

• The Women's Resource Centre can be contacted on 295-3882 during working hours. The out-of-hours hotline is 295-7273. The Physical Abuse Centre number from Monday to Friday is 292-4366, and 297-8278 out-of-hours.