Experiences of women with disabilities in Lithuania when their gender, disability, domestic violence, and mental health services intertwine.

BACKGROUND

Women with disabilities are two to five times more likely to experience domestic violence (DV), including intimate partner violence (IPV), when compared with women without disabilities. Survivors of DV and IPV are around three times more likely than women without this life experience to develop mental health conditions or a psychosocial disability.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the perspectives of women with disabilities who are survivors of DV and IPV about their help-seeking experiences and their use of mental health services in Lithuania.

METHODS

A qualitative explorative study was implemented within an experiential framework. Semi-structured interviews (n = 15) were conducted with women-survivors of DV who have sensory, physical, psychosocial, and intellectual disabilities. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using MAXQDA software.

RESULTS

The key findings highlight the complex intersection between gender, disability, and DV, including IPV. Women with disabilities may be extremely dependent on their abusers for daily individual support and may also experience disability-based violence as a result of this situation. Societal stigma and victim-blaming attitudes, as well as the lack of community-based services, may prevent survivors from seeking help. However, those who do may benefit greatly from support provided by mental health services.

CONCLUSIONS

Further qualitative and quantitative research concerning the interlink between the areas of gender, disability, DV and IPV, and the provision of mental health services is needed, especially about what interventions might be the most effective for this particular population.