Society-wide response needed to tackle intimate partner violence: N.S. non-profit [Video]

Those who work in the non-profit sector are speaking out about the increase in cases of intimate partner violence in the Maritimes.

Since October, five incidents have resulted in six homicides in the region; five of those homicides were in Nova Scotia and one was in New Brunswick.

They come after Nova Scotia adopted a bill in September declaring domestic violence an epidemic in the province.

Dr. Meghan Hansford, a program manager with Adsum for Women and Children, says there is a notion that violence against women is a private matter that shouldn’t be talked about, which minimizes and normalizes the issue.

“We really cannot continue this narrative – it’s very much a public issue and one that we should be concerned about,” she said during an interview with CTV Atlantic’s Crystal Garrett.

“And what is really challenging is this pervasive issue only seems to get attention when there’s fatalities, particularly when the rates of intimate partner violence nationally continue to be on …