Preliminary Scoping Review Findings on Service Workers’ Experiences with Survivors Facing Intimate Partner Violence, Mental Health, and Substance Use Concerns

Objective: Intimate partner violence (IPV), mental health, and substance use are intricately connected. IPV service workers (IPVSWs) engage closely with survivors and are often in ideal positions to provide holistic support that addresses these overlapping needs. However, existing research on IPVSWs’ experiences in managing these intersecting issues is limited, outdated, or not situated within the Canadian context. This scoping review seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of IPVSWs’ experiences in addressing IPV, mental health, and substance use challenges among survivors. Methods: Guided by JBI methodological recommendations for scoping reviews, this study was conducted between August and December 2025. The following databases were searched for peer-reviewed academic literature: Medline Ovid, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Grey literature was identified through Google Scholar and Google, and reference lists of included studies were screened to identify papers that met the inclusion criteria. Data was analyzed thematically, and management was conducted through Covidence. Results: A total of 2,930 peer-reviewed academic articles and 204 grey literature reports were screened for eligibility, resulting in 23 included sources. Preliminary findings highlight eight key themes: 1) sociodemographic considerations; 2) workforce training gaps; 3) reframing care; 4) shelter constraints; 5) emotional demands; 6) structural limitations; 7) siloed services; and 8) practice strategies. Conclusion: The preliminary findings of the scoping review reveal that IPVSWs across diverse contexts face significant challenges in supporting survivors with intersecting IPV, mental health, and substance use concerns. The study underscores the urgent need for updated and context-specific research on IPVSWs’ experiences, particularly within Canada’s diverse organizational and regional settings. Future studies should examine the patterns of intersecting IPV, mental health, and substance use issues within IPV services, while also illuminating the nuanced realities that shape IPVSWs’ practice. Such research is critical to informing the development, review, and strengthening of strategies to better support IPVSWs, and enhance service delivery for survivors navigating complex and overlapping challenges.

Author dc:creator

• Lundy, Tara

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jackson, Kimberly

• Intimate Partner Violence
• Mental Health
• Substance Use
• Providers
• survivors

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/39842

OAI record oai:identifier

https://uwo.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Auwo.scholaris.ca%3A20.500.14721%2F39842