There has been a huge increase in calls for help to several domestic and sexual violence organizations in Alberta. Organizations believe isolation orders encouraging people to stay home could be contributing.
The Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services compared the number of calls and messages for help on Feb. 15 to the month following.
It found there was a 57 per cent increase in people reaching out. CEO Deb Tomlinson said that doesn’t necessarily mean there has been a spike in incidents but rather that the COVID-19 pandemic could be bringing up anxiety. “This is a traumatic experience for all of us and for those of us who have experienced sexual assault trauma, the trauma from the pandemic is going to exacerbate the trauma from