Family violence cases on the rise amid Covid-19 pandemic

More time spent at home takes toll on victims, social workers say

- Theresa Tan

She was a professional in her 30s and, for more than five years, endured in silence brutal abuse from her violent husband.

He was controlling, checked on her calls and was prone to flying into a rage if he did not get what he wanted. And he took it out on her.

The mother of two young children did not seek help until he beat her up so badly that she landed in hospital with a blood clot in her shoulder. The hospital alerted the social workers at Care Corner Project StART.

Care Corner Project StART lead social worker Kristine Lam, who has been working with the woman since 2019, said she had found ways to cope with her husband’s controlling and violent streak.

But the pandemic took her to a breaking point. Ms Lam said: “She felt trapped when her husband started to work from home during the pandemic and she didn’t feel safe with him around the clock.”

To avoid angering him, she gave in to his wishes and he has not hit her again, as far as Ms Lam is aware.