Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research (SOAR)

Are you a whiz with numbers, and an experienced project coordinator with a passion for supporting survivors of intimate partner violence? We're looking for someone to join our small and mighty team on a short-term, part-time contract as our project coordinator with a focus on finance and fund development. This role is fully remote and open to Canadian applicants. Check it out at https://lnkd.in/gV-cKce6

At SOAR, we're passionate about EXPLORING the intersection of intimate partner violence and brain injury, EDUCATING frontline workers and members of the public on how to recognize and respond to brain injury from intimate partner violence, and EMPOWERING survivors to get the supports and services they need. You can help by making a tax deductible donation at https://lnkd.in/gad9XtUN

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Today we wear orange because "Every Child Matters". We also commit to learning more about Indigenous culture, language, and history, reading Indigenous authors and supporting Indigenous artists, and donating to support families, Survivors and communities to locate and memorialize children of residential schools across Canada. #NDTR https://lnkd.in/gHrRzxkc

Test your knowledge on concussion recovery with this month's "True or False" question!

We love to celebrate colleagues and collaborators who care about #braininjury from #intimatepartnerviolence as much as we do. This month, our SOAR Spotlight is on Carrie Esopenko, PhD (she/her), an associate professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. 🧠 Where are you from?⁠ Originally, I’m a small town in Alberta, Canada, but am now living in New York City. 🧠 What is your area of study/expertise? ⁠⁠ I’m a research psychologist who studies the cognitive, psychological, and neural effects brain injury, repetitive head trauma, and trauma exposure in individuals who have exposure to intimate partner violence, military services members and veterans, and athletes. ⁠⁠ 🧠 What do you do in your research/work? ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠We take a mixed methods research approach to unmask the myriad of effects of trauma and brain injury associated with IPV in cisgender women and transgender and gender diverse individuals, as well as in female veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma. 🧠 Why does it matter? ⁠Roughly, one in three women will experience IPV in their lifetime, which is likely even higher for women of color, indigenous folks, and transgender and gender diverse individuals. This means that millions of people are dealing with the ramifications of exposure to IPV, and many of them, undetected brain injuries. Yet, we are so far behind in understanding how the intersection of trauma exposure and brain injuries impact an individuals’ functioning and long-term quality of life. This needs to urgently change and we need to stop ignoring the problem. 🧠 What is one thing you think everyone needs to know about BI in IPV? Everyone needs to be aware of how high the prevalence of intimate partner violence is, and that it can cause injuries to the brain. Many people do not understand that physical IPV often includes impacts to the head and face, as well as neck trauma. All of these increase the risk for brain injury, and we really need to be asking everyone who reports physical IPV if they have experienced these injuries. Far too many people who have been exposed to interpersonal violence are living with the effects of undiagnosed and untreated brain injury. Learn more about Carrie and her work at https://lnkd.in/g2SDeYc4

Violence against women and girls is a serious public health crisis around the world. New research shows 24% of girls aged 15-19 experience sexual or physical intimate partner violence in their lifetime. The research found places with "higher rates of female secondary school enrolment and those with inheritance laws that are more gender-equal had lower prevalence of intimate partner violence against adolescent girls. Lower-income countries and societies with a high prevalence of child marriage had higher prevalence." Read the full paper at https://ow.ly/iC5Z50ST4S2.

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, a good time to talk about the intersection of brain injury and substance use. https://lnkd.in/gcZ2xcU

Summer's almost over, so it's time to plan for the arrival of fall, and with it, the chance to attend an amazing, online conference. Register now for "Intimate Partner Violence Brain Injury: Breaking down barriers and building understanding" presented by ENIGMA IPV and PINK Concussions. You'll hear the latest on research and practice in the area of IPV-BI, and get to meet and learn from some wonderful survivors too. Register free at https://ow.ly/WVOK50SL8I5

Navigating the twists and turns of the legal system can be challenging for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), especially when they're dealing with the effects of a brain injury. Our team was fortunate to work with members of the ENIGMA IPV Working Group to produce the video "Empowering Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Through Education: Navigating the Legal System." The video includes answers to common questions, definitions of legal terms, and valuable tips and tools for survivors. Check it out at https://lnkd.in/gMPiQtRV #IPV #BI #concussion #strangulation #familycourt #justicesystem

Want the latest research and info on brain injury from intimate partner violence? Register for "Breaking Down Barriers and Building Understanding," a free, online conference November 13/14 presented by Enigma IPV and Pink Concussions. Info and schedule at https://lnkd.in/dyM-224X.