The Fresh Breath research that we conducted in 2012 and 2013 is still the only Canadian-context work examining the experiences of women-identified survivors of non-fatal strangulation in the context of an intimate partner relationship. That work focuses on how dangerous the physical violence associated with being strangled is, and the short, medium, and long-term health impacts of such violence. From that work, we partnered with researchers from the University of Toronto, Angela Colantonio and Lin Haag. Lin was also at yesterday's panels.
We are now looking at traumatic brain injury in the context of intimate partner violence. Again, something we know is that the numbers of women who have experienced hits to the head, face, and neck that lead to possible traumatic brain injuries are equivalent to the numbers of women, in the Canadian context, who have breast cancer.
The amount of research and the amount of public awareness and education provided on that type of strangulation and head trauma are inconsequential, whereas the impacts on the women who have experienced it are life altering. It impacts their ability to work and function, and it also adversely impacts their ability to navigate the system we're talking about, especially in the context of family court and trying to fight for custody of their children. The way they are seen is that they are somehow unfit, not recognizing the fact that the health impacts are caused by the physical assault from the partner.