Researcher bios and how their research backgrounds relate to this study
Dr. Nazanin Alavi is a staff psychiatrist and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Queen's University. With remarkable expertise in the field of digital mental health, Dr. Alavi's research focuses on advancing the understanding and application of innovative technologies in mental healthcare. One of her significant contributions, alongside her team at Queen's University Online Psychotherapy Lab involves developing a stepped care model for treating mental health disorders using a machine learning algorithm that effectively identifies the level of care required by individuals. Their involvement in community-based projects reflects a deep understanding of the intricate dynamics that shape the lives of individuals and families within diverse communities, aligning with the current project's goal of addressing the pressing concern of intimate partner violence (IPV) within Simcoe/Muskoka.
Dr. Elnaz Moghimi is a health scientist by training and holds a PhD in Kinesiology and Health Science and two concurrent diplomas in Neuroscience and Quantitative Methods from York University. Dr. Elnaz Moghimi is an early career researcher at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care with strong proficiency in research in the areas of youth mental health, patient-oriented care, qualitative research methods, and improving accessibility of mental health interventions in equity-seeking and equity-deserving populations. Dr. Moghimi adopts an intersectional approach that advocates for equitable care, which translates into this project's goal of developing specialized IPV services that promote proactive help-seeking behaviours.
Dr. Hilton is the Senior Research Scientist at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care and a Professor of Psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. Dr. Hilton earned her PhD in Psychology at the University of Toronto and a Master’s degree in Criminology from the University of Cambridge, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Southampton. She is also a fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association. Dr. Hilton has been both a front-line clinician and a full-time researcher. Dr. Hilton conducts research that pertains to justice-involved individuals in the criminal justice and psychiatric systems, and the professionals who provide services for them. She has conducted influential research in the areas of domestic violence, risk assessment, risk communication, and more recently the physical health and psychological wellbeing of both patients and staff at psychiatric hospitals. She was the lead of the research team that created the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA), a brief actuarial tool created to aid decision making by police and other first responders to intimate partner violence. Dr. Hilton's subject matter expertise uniquely positions this synergistic team to bring innovative, sustainable solutions that address the evolving landscape of intimate partner violence in the Simcoe/Muskoka region.
Purpose of this research project
Our research project is aimed at exploring the service needs of individuals involved in intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV includes harmful behaviors or threats within romantic relationships. More specifically, this will involve capturing both similarities and differences in the service needs of perpetrators and victims/survivors, understanding the intersecting roles of social identities in the context of help-seeking within IPV survivors and perpetrators, and to identify the unique cultural and systemic factors that may influence beliefs towards IPV and service needs. The study will explore support services related to IPV, what has been helpful, and how support and resources for both victims and perpetrators can be improved. Participant insights will help us understand the diverse needs of individuals affected by IPV. We will also examine participants’ perspectives on how certain aspects of their identities, such as age, gender, sexuality, race/ethnicity, have influenced or had an impact on their care experiences.
How this research will help LGBT2SQ people and communities
This research has the potential to help 2SLGBTQ people and communities by deepening our understanding of diverse service and care needs for victim/survivors and perpetrators of intimate partner violence. By adopting an intersectional approach, this study will consider the cultural and systemic factors to narrow the gap between currently available IPV services and the unmet needs of diverse individuals and communities affected by IPV.
Participants
We are recruiting individuals ages 18 years and above, living in or near the Simcoe/Muskoka area (including the GTA), who have been involved in intimate partner violence in a romantic relationship within the past two years. Interested participants will take part in a 60-minute confidential interview with a member of our research team. The interview will explore the individual’s history with IPV and experiences with related service. We will also examine their perspectives on how certain aspects of their identities, such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, have influenced or had an impact on their care experiences.
Compensation
$30 e-gift card
Mitigation measures
Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, we will adopt the Qualitative Research Distress Protocol (QRDP), which provides standardized strategies for reducing distress and acknowledging participants’ emotional needs during interviews (Triage Pathway), a Referral Resource that adheres to inclusive and culturally sensitive crisis and care resources, and Reporting Directions on disclosing distressing events during an interview. At any point if the participant is experiencing distress, we will check-in with the participant, pause, and/or end the interview.
Promoting the Study
This study is advertised on the Queen's University Online Psychotherapy Lab's webpage (see https://www.queensopl.ca/ipv-referral). This study is also being advertised to the PI's and Co-Investigators networks which include various community organizations throughout Simcoe Muskoka.