Psychology

Natural disaster

Globe

Suicide prevention

Welfare

Economics

Environmental health

Economic growth

Infectious disease (medical specialty)

Criminology

Meteorology

Neuroscience

Disease

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Poison control

Pandemic

Political science

Geography

Development economics

Social distance

Public relations

Pathology

Sociology

Distancing

Domestic violence

Medicine

Forensic Science International Reports

Though necessary to slow the spread of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), actions such as social-distancing, sheltering in-place, restricted travel, and closures of key community foundations are likely to dramatically increase the risk for family violence around the globe. In fact many countries are already indicating a dramatic increase in reported cases of domestic violence. While no clear precedent for the current crisis exists in academic literature, exploring the impact of natural disasters on family violence reports may provide important insight for family violence victim-serving professionals. Improving collaborations between human welfare and animal welfare agencies, expanding community partnerships, and informing the public of the great importance of reporting any concerns of abuse are all critical at this time.

An increasing risk of family violence during the Covid-19 pandemic: Strengthening community collaborations to save lives