Prof. June Keeling (Keele University, United Kingdom). Photo: VU MF
“We need to destigmatize domestic violence and abuse, and say that it is a common problem. We need to address it, we need to support the survivors and to support the perpetrators to correct their behaviors as well because it is unacceptable. We, medical healthcare practitioners will see those patients coming in, and it is up to us to be proactive in recognizing indicators of someone who is in this destructive relationship”, says Prof. June Keeling (Keele University, United Kingdom).
Here, Professor shares her thoughts on REVAMP project, its significance, Lithuanian representatives’ role in this project and impressions about Lithuania as she visits the country for the first time.
Could you please tell me what the project REVAMP is about?
REVAMP was born out of clinical practice as nurse and midwife were aware of toxic relationships when one partner was dominated by another. And working alongside among healthcare professionals it became clear that there were a distinct lack of knowledge and awareness of these toxic relationships and how to support survivors in clinical practice. So, the aim of REVAMP is to provide an online training program for medical and health care practitioners to learn how to recognize indicators of domestic violence, and how to support and respond to a patient who comes in and sees the practitioner. The practitioner should be able to see the signs that the patient is experiencing domestic violence and abuse. In order to be up to support the survivors of domestic violence and abuse effectively, we needed to engage with that and embrace the fact that people do move across Europe quite easily nowadays. That is why it is significant to mention that REVAMP is Trans-European project, funded by the EU.
Prof. Vaiva Hendrixson has been a good colleague and friend of mine since 2013. We have worked together on previous ERASMUS funded projects, so it has provided a great opportunity to work with her again. The EVAMP team is now a partnership of 7 organizations across Europe. We have made a great opportunity for medical care practitioners to undertake training in order that they could recognize domestic violence and abuse across the age range. The program is design as three modules: one based on children and young people, adults and older people. The medical and healthcare practitioners will undertake studying across these three areas and complete the sheets of assessments. If they pass the assessments, then they are awarded with certificate of achievement.
REVAMP itself offers a superb opportunity for all medical healthcare practitioners to engaging in professional development. What we hope that eventually REVAMP will be embedded into curricula because all medical healthcare practitioners need to know about domestic violence and abuse. It is very prevalent. The World Health Organization completed a large prevalence study and identified that one in three women across their lifetime at some stage will experience domestic violence and abuse. So, that is very wide problem. We do need to understand more and we need to know how to respond effectively, so that survivors of domestic violence and abuse can seek support that is appropriate to them.
REVAMP project representatives. Prof. Vaiva Hendrixon and Prof. June Keeling are in the center of the photo. Photo: VU MF
What is the role of Lithuanian representatives to this project? How do they contribute to it and is their contribution significant?
Lithuanian partners have been integral from beginning of the project, so we have developed competencies that we would like our learners to achieve. We looked at knowledge and skills competencies. The assessments that are designed in the modules are for the learners to make those competencies. We can deliver the REVAMP modules as a stand-alone program with the Lithuanian partners’ discussing if it can be embedded into medical students training. We have engaging e-learning platform from which to deliver the training.
There is a list of support agencies for survivors of domestic violence in each of the REVAMP partner countries: Lithuania, UK, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Norway and France. We have lists of national agencies, which can provide support. We should all know where to find them on a REVAMP website because it might be patient who comes in, it might be a colleague, it might be a family member. We have to help to really shorten the time that they exposed to this coercion and controlling relationship. A lot of people because of words – domestic violence and abuse – perceive this relationship as being physically violent and what they not aware of – this relationship starts with coecion, control, and subjugation. So it starts eroding person’s autonomy by simple statements such as you shouldn’t go out with your friends, they are not good for you, or you don’t need to see your family, come out with me. And then they engage a person in this – they very often move in with the person, they move into a house together very soon after starting the relationship because what perpetrators do is eroding the individuals support network so that survivor would solely rely on the perpetrator.
So, we really need to think about the dynamic with a relationship where domestic violence and abuse occurs and recognize the early signs of abusive relationship often not physical, it is a cohesion and control. And we can pick that quite easily when we are treating our patients.
finally, what are your first impressions in Lithuania? What fascinates you the most here?
The weather is very English – it rains in England too (laughs). Actually, what surprised me is space. It’s so open as a city, it’s large open areas of green space! It has been a privilege to be here and be guided around the university and Medical faculty today. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, the buildings and the Baroque style of the churches and where you hold the graduation ceremonies. It has been very friendly and welcoming, and supporting.
We have been very warmly welcomed, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Rector and to Professor Vaiva Hendrixon and colleagues for inviting us and organizing such a wonderful visit!