N.S. committee ‘hopeful’ on preventing future domestic violence deaths

Mental health in elementary schools, housing supports and violence prevention services for men.

Those are some of the recommendations from a Domestic Violence Death Review Committee in Nova Scotia.

Dr. Matthew Bowes is the chair of the committee, and the province’s chief medical examiner.

He says he’s seen a lot of domestic violence deaths in his 20 years in the industry.

“Not being able to do anything about them has been tough, but we now have a way to take the lessons that have been learned, and hopefully prevent deaths. I think as a province we’re standing up and saying ‘no more of this.’ Let’s go and solve this problem,” said Dr. Bowes.

He says they need consistency and effectiveness in programs and services, meaning everyone needs to know where to go to get the services they need.

The committee also recommends a provincial umbrella for men’s intervention groups that focus on healthy relationships, challenging misogyny, removing victim-blaming and anger management.

Dr. Bowes adds the province is already taking positive steps.

They include ongoing work by departments to create a curricula to address violence.

“I think we’ve made sensible recommendations, and I think we’ve already seen some of them take shape, so I’m very hopeful.”

The report is now in the hands of Justice minister Scott Armstrong.