UBCO and the Kelowna Women's Shelter have received $290,000 from the federal government's Women and Gender Equality Canada initiative for research into brain injuries created by intimate partner violence within 2SLGBTQIA+ relationships.
UBC Okanagan and the Kelowna Women's Shelter are collaborating to reshape how intimate partner violence (IPV) is understood and treated among 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors.
The project, partially supported by the federal government's Women and Gender Equality Canada initiative, will receive more than $290,000 in funding to support community-based research and initiatives that address the gap that has sidelined the unique challenges of gender-diverse communities.
"By shining a light on brain injuries within 2SLGBTQIA+ relationships, we're challenging outdated assumptions about IPV," explains Tori Stranges, a doctoral student in UBCO's Faculty of Health and Social Development . "This isn't just another study-it's a call to re-evaluate support systems that have, until now, overlooked the nuanced experiences of these survivors."
The study began last summer and brings together UBCO researchers and community partners, including the Kelowna Women's Shelter.
"We're proud to work alongside UBCO on this important research," says Michelle Dickie, Executive Director of the Kelowna Women's Shelter. "Our goal is to amplify the conversation around IPV and emphasize that it affects individuals across all gender identities and sexual orientations, ensuring that our community's services are truly inclusive and informed by lived experiences."
The project's mixed-methods design-combining surveys, in-depth interviews and focus groups-will culminate in a world café-style event. This event will unite survivors, service providers and policymakers to craft real-world solutions for better health care and social support.
Early survey results and interviews indicate that the prevalence of brain injuries-often hidden by a heteronormative lens-is alarmingly high among 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and, particularly, those impacted by IPV, explains Stranges.
The study's findings are expected to drive new screening protocols and tailored support services that acknowledge the full spectrum of IPV's impact-from the physical to the neurological.
"As public interest grows in understanding the multifaceted nature of IPV, this research represents a bold stride toward a future where every survivor's experience is recognized and addressed," she adds.
