Survivors of intimate partner violence say educational reforms could help break the cycle of abuse
CBC
WARNING: This story contains details of intimate partner violence
Crystal McClean says it was the beginning of a new year when she decided she needed to leave her abusive partner. It took more than a year for her to make it happen for good.
"I was in an abusive relationship — physically, mentally, emotionally and sexually," she said.
"I left probably over 50 times and just kept returning. I couldn't break the cycle."
Now separated and on a path to recovery, she wants to see educational reforms to try to lower Saskatchewan's troubling rates of domestic violence. In 2022, Saskatchewan had the highest provincial rates of police-reported family violence in the country with 730 victims per 100,000 population, and of intimate partner violence (IPV) at 732 per 100,000.
McClean said a lack of resources and education around IPV is driving the numbers up. Other survivors and educators agree.
McClean, a teacher, is trying to be part of the solution by sharing with her students what she has learned the hard way.
"We need to educate and empower people about the first signs of domestic violence. We need to start with our youth. We need to teach them healthy boundaries and relationships, about self-worth, self-love and self-respect," she said.
Her wounds have healed, but memories of the abuse still come in flashbacks. She remembers being helpless.
"I laid in the snow, my face in the snow, and I just wanted to die. I didn't want to live anymore."
She said the physical abuse started within the first couple of months of the relationship. She said resisting would make the punishment severe.
"It started off with just pushes and pulls of the hair, yanks of the arm and then it turned into full on beatings."
McClean said her partner's substance use was a big factor to the abuse she sustained. She said her family noticed bruises and worried about her.
"I told them that I fell down the stairs. They didn't believe me."
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