Last year, almost 2,200 people lived in a crisis centre. This is a small increase from 2022, when 2,110 people stayed and received help in a crisis centre. It is the Directorate for Children, Youth and Families that prepares the statistics showing the activity at the country’s more than 40 shelters. Where the pressure has been greatest is in the use of the day services that the shelters offer. Never before has the demand been greater. In 2022, the daily visits were 11,000. Just one year later, in 2023, it was up to 13,500. This increase is confirmed by Ane Fossum, who is the general manager at the Crisis Center Secretariat. Ane Fossum in the Crisis Center Secretariat confirms that more people are making use of the services at Norwegian crisis centers Photo: Crisis Center Secretariat – Some crisis centers have experienced up to a 30 percent increase from just one year to the next, she says. As an example, she points to the crisis center in Midt-Troms: – They have had an increase from 150 in 2020 to 500 in 2023. That is a formidable increase, says Fossum. Divisional director of Bufdir, Tove Bruusgaard, says it is very positive that many victims of violence have used the shelters’ offer of talks and guidance in 2023. – From the research we know that it is in the break-up phase that the risk of violence is particularly great, she says. Many victims of violence are unsure of their own situation, and although the offer is quite unknown, more and more people are now becoming aware of it. Finally took the step Anita is one of many who have received help from a crisis centre. When she realized through a friend that you don’t have to move in to get help, she took the step. It demanded a lot from her. – It has been absolutely crucial for me to get out of the relationship completely. Demanding, but absolutely necessary, she says. Anita was not aware of all the help you can get at a shelter. Photo: Maria Kommandantvold / news It has been a couple of years since Anita got out of a relationship characterized by threats and psychological violence. Several times she went back in the hope that things would get better. Today, she is glad she didn’t give up. – I believe that I would not have gotten out of what I was in if I had not received that help. I wasn’t aware that you could come there for conversations, and it was those conversations that enabled me to break out of what was dangerous for me, says Anita. Full crisis centers Ane Fossum, general manager at the Crisis Center Secretariat, confirms what the figures that came in today show. – We get feedback from the shelters that it is full. Some of the cases are also more complicated and heavy, and the violence is more serious. Fossum says it could be one of the explanations for people staying at the crisis center for longer than before. But during the corona pandemic, many shelters experienced a drastic decrease in the number of inquiries. But after society opened up again, the influx has increased slowly but surely. Some figures from the crisis center statistics in 2022 Most of the users had been exposed to violence from a male perpetrator, respectively 93 per cent of the residents and 92 per cent of the day users. 15 per cent of residents and 14 per cent of day users were exposed to violence from a female perpetrator. 3 out of 4 adult residents and just over 8 out of 10 day users and telephone users stated that the perpetrator was either a current or former spouse, cohabitant or lover. For just over 8 out of 10 children in a crisis centre, the perpetrator was a father. For a large proportion of the children, the stay at the crisis center resulted in an interruption in kindergarten or school attendance. In 56 per cent of the stays for kindergarten children and 36 per cent of the stays for school children, there were interruptions, usually for reasons of their own safety. (Source: Sentio/Bufdir) More men have received help Men still make up a smaller part of the users at the shelters. In 2023, however, more male residents were registered than ever before. In 2023, the shelters had 254 stays by men, while the number of stays the previous year was 215. Ane Fossum in the Shelter Secretariat hopes that the increase is due to the fact that they have managed to reach out to men as well. – I hope that they realize that this offer is also for them, and that they get in touch and get the help they need, says Fossum. Anita also thinks it is positive that more men are visiting a crisis centre. – There is a lot of shame in being subjected to violence, no matter what gender you are. But being traditionally the stronger sex and being exposed to violence, there is probably a lot of stigma attached to it. – So I would like to think that it is even longer for men to ask for help, and therefore I am extra happy that there is an increase, and that we actually see that they are asking for it, says Anita. You can get help here The police: 112/02800 The violence and abuse line: 116 006 Dinutvei.no: National guide to violence and abuse Crisis center where you live: Find your crisis center Exposing others to violence is illegal. You do not need to be in an acute crisis to get help at a crisis center or call the violence and abuse hotline. You are not alone. There is an assistive device that is there for you. Published 10.06.2024, at 07.09 Updated 10.06.2024, at 10.51
ttn-69
– It has been absolutely decisive – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
