A Mauricie man who committed a violent act against his ex-spouse wants to change things and urges the government to do more to avoid other tragedies, in particular with the creation of self-help groups for men.
However, its history goes back more than ten years. Nothing foreshadowed a tragedy when this man separated from his wife. However, the situation degenerated after an escalation of verbal abuse.
Deeply affected by the wave of feminicides in recent months, the man implores the government to do more. In particular, it offers the addition of self-help groups for men, but also a telephone service, available at all times, dedicated to men in distress.
After a long introspection, he does not hide that the tragedy could have been avoided if resources had been available the evening of these gestures.
“I still remember, I was on my computer and I asked for help. I got a voicemail, I got even more frustrated. What hurts me, even today, is that the situation has not changed since, the resources are insufficient, ”said the man.
He has also contacted the government to share his impressions.
A consultation mandate was then entrusted to the deputy for Chauveau, Sylvain Lévesque. He met with organizations that help men, police services, crisis centres, legal workers, researchers, but also users of services for men.
The politician, who is also deputy government whip, presented his report to the ministerial committee last December. It will serve as a basis for future decisions.
In the community, resources that come to the aid of spouses with violent behavior are in high demand.
“There are discussions with our provincial association about the telephone line. It is a desire of many men’s organizations to offer this listening service, but it will require financial and human resources,” said Claudia Champagne, director of L’Accord Mauricie, which works with 300 men per year.
In the event of a crisis, people in distress can contact the 811 line, recalled psychologist Paul Langevin.
When verbal tension between two individuals increases, he also recommended trying to take a step back and get some fresh air. He also reminded spouses who are victims of verbal or physical abuse to leave the premises quickly.
In 2019, 4.2% of women experienced spousal violence, compared to 2.7% of men, representing approximately 432,000 women and 279,000 men across Canada, according to the General Social Survey (ESG) on the safety of Canadians
Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com