How Primary Care Supports Teens and Young Adults in the IPV Epidemic

Presently, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is an epidemic that is not quite spoken about. In short, IPV impacts millions of people every year. Many teenagers and young adults believe they are safe from IPV; however, this is far from the case. In 2022, police reports in Canada recorded 117,093 victims of intimate relationship violence, with victims as young as 12.¹ Therefore, IPV affects not only adults, but also teens and young people. 

Why Primary Care Providers Matter

Primary care providers play an important role in mitigating the IPV epidemic.  Yet, a doctor’s office is not what people may think of right away when the topic of IPV is brought up. However, primary care providers are in a good position to recognize early signs of abuse, offer a safe space for victims to open up, help create a plan for getting help, and overall provide support and resources needed to stay safe and avoid the short- and long-term consequences of IPV.

Below are a few examples primary care providers play a role:

• Building Trust and Comfort: A lot of teens and young adults often don't know who they can turn to in difficult and sensitive situations especially IPV. In particular, teens and young adults might be afraid to speak to their parents or friends, especially if they hold a lot of shame and don’t understand what is happening and the severity of the situation. In this respect, primary providers and their office can be a neutral and non-judgmental space for young people. In fact, patient-partner relationships developed in a primary care office, especially those that started when one was a child from yearly checkups, can help individuals feel more comfortable and gain more trust in opening up about sensitive issues, such as IPV.
  
  
• Identifying Red Flags Early: As we may know, primary providers often see us for regular checkups. These appointments can be a good opportunity for primary providers to see if someone has any signs of abuse, which include bruises or suspicious injuries. Even more so, they may be able to further investigate whether any unhealthy behaviours such as anxiety and constantly missing school could be connected to being in an unhealthy relationship. It’s important to note that not every patient will disclose abuse. However, primary care providers can still gently ask about relationships and make sure to note any warning signs.
  
  
• Confidentiality and Safety: When teens or young adults come to a doctor’s office, they often worry about privacy. They might worry that their parents or partners will find out what they’re going through. In this respect, primary care providers have a responsibility to keep conversations confidential (of course within reason), which is especially important when it comes to IPV. This confidentiality can give teens and young people the courage to speak out about what they’re experiencing without fear of being judged or retaliation.
  
  
• Empowerment and Providing Support Services Options: If a primary care provider identifies their patient is at risk or experiencing IPV, they have the responsibility to ensure the patient is supported and taken care of. This includes bringing in a multi-disciplinary team such as therapists, shelters, legal advocates, social workers, and many more. Additionally, they can provide resources such as phone numbers for intimate partner violence hotlines or local support organizations. Furthermore, one of the biggest barriers to addressing IPV is the lack of awareness and education. This causes many young people to be unsure of what counts as abuse or how to get help. Therefore, primary care providers can educate their patients about healthy relationships, boundaries, and warning signs of IPV.
  
  

Altogether, IPV is a widespread and unspoken epidemic that impacts millions, including teens and young adults. A lot of the time teens and young adults don’t realize they’re not safe from experiencing IPV. An important actor in helping mitigate the epidemic are primary care providers who have opportunities to be able to recognize warning signs, provide a safe space for disclosure, educate their patients, and connect individuals with support services. As a result, primary care offices can help break the cycle of abuse and support victims in seeking safety.

1. Statistics Canada. 2023. “Trends in police-reported family violence and intimate partner violence in Canada, 2022.”