RESOLVE

Exposing an Invisible Crisis Building Holistic, Integrated Care Pathways for IPV Survivors with TBI

Exposing an Invisible Crisis | Building Holistic, Integrated Care Pathways for Intimate Partner Violence Survivors with Traumatic Brain Injury through Multi-Sector Partnerships in Manitoba is a three-year initiative focused on enhancing support for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) who have experienced brain injuries. The project aims to establish a diverse network of professionals, organizations, and sectors working together to improve services across the entire continuum of care—from immediate crisis response to long-term recovery. Through mapping care pathways, the initiative seeks to strengthen service systems and foster better outcomes for survivors. Funding for this project is provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

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Exposing an Invisible Crisis Building Holistic, Integrated Care Pathways for IPV Survivors with TBI

TBI graphic

Many women - along with some 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors may be living with undiagnosed brain injuries caused by intimate partner violence. These injuries often result from repeated head trauma, strangulation, or violent shaking by a partner. They are not accidental - they are the result of deliberate, targeted violence. Naming this clearly is essential to understanding the seriousness of IPV-related brain injury and the kinds of support survivors truly need.

Brain injuries can affect memory, emotional regulation, decision-making, and parenting, yet are often misunderstood or misattributed by systems like child welfare, healthcare, and the justice system. Recognizing brain injury as a consequence of IPV is critical to responding with compassion and ensuring survivors—especially women—are supported, not punished, for the trauma they’ve endured.

Our project challenges the invisibility of IPV-related brain injury, pushing systems to see survivors as individuals who have lived through intentional, repeated harm, and to respond with respect, dignity, and care that truly meets their needs.

Overview of IPV-TBI

What is IPV?

Intimate partner violence (IPV), also known as spousal or domestic violence is a prevalent form of gender-based violence and can include multiple forms of harm caused by a current or former intimate partner or spouse (WAGE, 2025):

Learn more about IPV

What is TBI?

A TBI is an injury that affects how the brain works. TBIs range from mild to severe and symptoms include:

Behavioural Changes

  • Engaging in risky or impulsive behaviour

  • Difficulty in relationships

  • Isolation

Emotional Changes

  • Depression

  • Anxiety and anger

Physical Changes

  • Headache and mobility challenges

  • Fatigue and pain

  • Sensory changes

Learn more about TBI

What is IPV-TBI?

IPV-TBI is a hidden crisis affecting roughly 75% of IPV survivors. It stands for traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by intimate partner violence (IPV). Being hit on the head, face, or neck, or experiencing strangulation, can lead to a TBI. IPV-TBI is a severely underdiagnosed and undertreated issue. 

Symptoms:

  • Difficulty communicating and memory problems

  • Reduced judgement and problem-solving skills

  • Shortened attention span and inability to concentrate

  • Inability to initiate tasks or activities

  • Headaches and fatigue

Project Objectives

This transformative three-year initiative addresses the urgent need to support survivors of intimate partner violence with brain injuries through improved systems of care and collaboration. The project is anchored by three core objectives aimed at driving sustained, and far-reaching impacts. These objectives include: 

  1. Foster knowledge exchange and create a collaborative network

     

  2. Generate knowledge and design holistic, integrated, trauma—informed care pathways

     

  3. Develop the foundation for implementation and evaluation

Circles

Team Structure

Advisory Circle 

The Advisory Circle supporting this initiative comprises a diverse and inclusive mix of researchers, community partners, and students. Under the guidance of an Indigenous Elder, the group ensures that Indigenous wisdom meaningfully informs the development of solutions. This diversity fosters deeper insight and shared learning, enabling the Circle to explore and advance a more holistic framework for integrated, trauma-informed care pathways—specifically tailored to the needs of survivors with traumatic brain injuries. The Advisory Circle includes:

Academic Team Members & Collaborators

  • Elder Marilyn Hart Murdock, Indigenous Elder

  • Kendra Nixon, Principal Investigator, Faculty of Social Work

  • Ashley Stewart-Tufescu, Co-Principal Investigator, Faculty of Social Work

  • Kelly Russell, Max Rady College of Medicine

  • Lori Wilkinson, Faculty of Arts

  • Marlyn Bennett, Faculty of Social Work

  • Allison Fenske, Faculty of Law

  • Tamara Taillieu, Community Health Sciences

  • Michael Ellis, Max Rady College of Medicine, Pan am Clinic

  • AmyAnne Smith, Project Coordinator

Community Partners

  • Theresa Bruyere, Circling Buffalo Inc.

  • Tsungai Muvingi, Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters

  • Ashley Stewart, Klinic Community Health

  • Glenda James, Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association

  • Catriona Shantz, Women and Gender Equity Manitoba

  • Misty Bousquet, Department of Justice

  • Rhonda Dagg, CFS General Authority 

  • Kara Neustaedter, Klinic Community Health

Students

  • AmyAnne Smith, PhD student, Faculty of Social Work

  • Grace Holwell, Masters student, Faculty of Social Work

  • Breanna Amoyaw, Community Health Sciences, Masters Student

  • Ari Yoshi, BSc, Faculty of Psychology

  • Alexandra Arthurs, Master's Student, Faculty of Social Work 

  • Eloise Dell, BSW, Faculty of Social Work

Partnership Network 

An additional group of 22 partnership members is expected to be invited, with selections still to be finalized.

Project Timeline

Circle

1. Foster knowledge exchange and create a collaborative network

  • Advisory Circle operational

  • Environmental scan and literature review conducted

  • Project website created

  • Knowledge exchange hub launched

  • Partnership network (PN) members identified

2. Generate knowledge and design holistic, integrated, trauma informed pathways of care

  • Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) data request submitted

  • Plans established for data collection and analysis (interviews, survey)

  • Submit U of M ethics approval 

3. Foster knowledge exchange and create a collaborative network

  • PN members convene to exchange sector information and ideas

  • Knowledge hub activity utilized

  • MCHP data request approved

  • MCHP data analysis initiated

4. Generate knowledge and design holistic, integrated, trauma informed pathways of care

  • Complete MCHP data analysis

  • Study recruitment and data collection

  • Interview and survey analysis complete

  • Identification and mapping of potential care pathways


 

Circle
Cirlce

5. Generate knowledge and design holistic, integrated, trauma informed pathways of care (13-18 months)

  • Care pathways identified and drafted 

  • Evaluation of pathway feasibility and cultural sensitivity

6. Develop the foundation for implementation and evaluation (19-36 months)

  • Design evaluation framework and implementation strategy 

  • Creation of knowledge mobilization plan 

  • Curriculum framework created

  • Grant proposals written (implementation of pathways and additional knowledge mobilization 

Project Outcomes and Deliverables

This project will yield a diverse collection of outcomes and deliverables that reflect a collaborative and evidence-informed approach. From the development of a strong and functioning partnership to the creation of a comprehensive knowledge exchange infrastructure—each component strengthens the foundation for the initiative. These outcomes and deliverables include: 

  • Strong and functioning partnership 

  • Environmental scan report,  literature review report and research brief

  • Network directory

  • Project website (+ metrics)

  • Knowledge exchange hub (+ metrics)

  • MCHP data analysis (+ report)

  • Interviews with participants (+ report)

  • Surveys with service providers (+ report)

  • Care pathways draft and comprehensive care pathways report

  • 10 infographics, 6 practice briefs, 2 policy briefs, 3 research briefs, 4 webinars, 4 newsletters,  4 conference presentations, and 3 publications

  • Evaluation and implementation framework

  • Grant proposal submission (x2)

Icons

Project Resources

Icons

Infographics


 

Media Articles

Newsletters

coming soon

Publications

coming soon

Reports

coming soon

Webinars

  • Enhancing System Responses to Survivors & Perpetrators of Strangulation in Intimate Partner Violence - Access Here

  • Traumatic Brain Injury and IPV: Challenges for Survivors Involved in the Family Court System - Access Here

Additional Resources

  • Abused and Brain Injured: A Toolkit: Access Here

  • Brain Injury Common in Domestic Violence Video: Access Here

  • Mental Health Video: Access Here

  • At the Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence and Brain Injury - A Call to Action: Access Here

  • Traumatic Brain Injury and Domestic Violence Resource: Access Here

  • Traumatic Brain Injury and Mental Health Infographic: Access Here

  • Supporting Survivors of IPV & TBI Infographic: Access Here

  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): Supporting Survivors in Shelters Infographic: Access Here

  • HELPS Brain Injury Screening Tool: Access Here

  • YWCA Metro Vancouver - Concussion Story: Access Here

Latest Research

IPV-TBI Specific

  • Living in Fear and Prioritizing Safety: Exploring Women's Lives After Traumatic Brain Injury From Intimate Partner Violence: Access Here

  • Characterizing Possible Acute Brain Injury in Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence: A Retrospective Chart Review: Access Here

  • The Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence and Traumatic Brain Injury: Findings From an Emergency Summit Addressing System-Level Changes to Better Support Women Survivors: Access Here

IPV-TBI Mental Health

  • "Using the Right Tools and Addressing the Right Issue": A Qualitative Exploration to Support Better Care for Intimate Partner Violence, Brain Injury, and Mental Health: Access Here

  • "A Whole Ball of All-Togetherness": The Interwoven Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence, Brain Injury, and Mental Health: Access Here

IPV-TBI Through an Intersectional Lens

  • Characterizing Intimate Partner Violence-Caused Brain Injury in a Sample of Survivors in the Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning Community: Access Here

  • More Than A Footnote: A Research Report on Women and Girls with Disabilities in Canada: Access Here

  • The Emergency Department Response to Indigenous Women Experiencing Traumatic Brain Injury from Family Violence: Insights from Interviews with Hospital Staff in Regional Australia: Access Here

  • Newcomer Women’s Experiences of Help-Seeking after Intimate Partner Violence: Access Here

IPV-TBI and Systems

  • Essential Health Care Services for Intimate Partner Violence: Access Here

  • "If It Goes Horribly Wrong the Whole World Descends on You": The Influence of Fear, Vulnerability, and Powerlessness on Police Officers' Response to Victims of Head Injury in Domestic Violence: Access Here