Grant: Catalyst Grant: Healthy Youth - Promoting Health Equity in Canada's Youth

The federal government has declared violence against women an epidemic in Canada. At least one quarter of Canadian women will experience violence in their lifetime. This violence does not only impact on the women themselves, but likely has a profound "ripple effect" on women's children. However, despite the fact that violence against women is extremely common, how violence affects the health and well being of youth in affected families has not been systematically studied. Without this information, health system planners cannot ensure that youth who experience the violent injury of their mother have access to the right health services and support. In this study that uses large datasets available in Ontario, Canada, we will study the mental health and injury outcomes of youth whose mothers have been injured through violence. We will also evaluate the additional cost to the healthcare system of adverse health outcomes experienced by youth whose mothers have been violently injured. Finally, we will study how experiencing marginalization impacts on the relationship between a mother experiencing violent injury and the health outcomes experienced by the youth in her family. The results of this study will help healthcare providers and health system planners develop interventions to support youth affected by maternal violent injury.