<p>Bengaluru: Women undergoing domestic violence from family members face a double-edged sword when the abuser is addicted to alcohol or other substances, said Kiran Bhatia, Gender and Social Inclusion Technical Advisor and co-founder of Bembala, during a panel titled ‘Unpacking Addiction, Mental Health and Domestic Violence’ at a summit held in the city on Saturday.</p>.<p>The Invisible Scars Foundation, in collaboration with the Bembala Foundation, organised a domestic violence stakeholders summit. From reinventing safe spaces to examining the impact of addiction on families and mental health, the summit featured panel discussions with psychiatrists, social workers, police officials, mental health practitioners, and survivors of domestic violence.</p>.<p>Speaking about the relationship between gender-based violence, mental health, and substance abuse, Dr Madhuri H N, psychiatrist at Nimhans, said there is a direct correlation between domestic violence and substance abuse across low-, middle-, and high-income countries. “Spouses who are prone to addiction are seven times more likely to abuse their intimate partners than those who are not,” she said.</p>.Man held for assaulting ex-tenant over spurned love proposal in Bengaluru .<p>Shobha N, sub-inspector at the All Women and Child Department in Shivajinagar, who was part of the panel, informed the gathering about what to do in cases of domestic violence, while explaining the challenges involved in addressing such complaints.</p>.<p>“Many a time, women lodge complaints and ask the police to counsel their husbands rather than filing an FIR and taking the case forward. Hence, it is very challenging to deal with domestic violence,” she said.</p>.<p>Shameem Sheik Dastagir, an independent development professional, spoke about how patriarchal conditioning often influences women’s judgement in recognising domestic violence, making realisation and action difficult.</p>.<p>Survivors of domestic violence and substance abuse also shared their personal journeys of overcoming hurdles during various sessions at the summit.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Women undergoing domestic violence from family members face a double-edged sword when the abuser is addicted to alcohol or other substances, said Kiran Bhatia, Gender and Social Inclusion Technical Advisor and co-founder of Bembala, during a panel titled ‘Unpacking Addiction, Mental Health and Domestic Violence’ at a summit held in the city on Saturday.</p>.<p>The Invisible Scars Foundation, in collaboration with the Bembala Foundation, organised a domestic violence stakeholders summit. From reinventing safe spaces to examining the impact of addiction on families and mental health, the summit featured panel discussions with psychiatrists, social workers, police officials, mental health practitioners, and survivors of domestic violence.</p>.<p>Speaking about the relationship between gender-based violence, mental health, and substance abuse, Dr Madhuri H N, psychiatrist at Nimhans, said there is a direct correlation between domestic violence and substance abuse across low-, middle-, and high-income countries. “Spouses who are prone to addiction are seven times more likely to abuse their intimate partners than those who are not,” she said.</p>.Man held for assaulting ex-tenant over spurned love proposal in Bengaluru .<p>Shobha N, sub-inspector at the All Women and Child Department in Shivajinagar, who was part of the panel, informed the gathering about what to do in cases of domestic violence, while explaining the challenges involved in addressing such complaints.</p>.<p>“Many a time, women lodge complaints and ask the police to counsel their husbands rather than filing an FIR and taking the case forward. Hence, it is very challenging to deal with domestic violence,” she said.</p>.<p>Shameem Sheik Dastagir, an independent development professional, spoke about how patriarchal conditioning often influences women’s judgement in recognising domestic violence, making realisation and action difficult.</p>.<p>Survivors of domestic violence and substance abuse also shared their personal journeys of overcoming hurdles during various sessions at the summit.</p>
