Description
Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Summarize current Canadian trends in intimate partner violence, including incidence, patterns of harm, and data on femicide/homicide and criminal legal system involvement.
• Explain the evolving Canadian legal landscape related to IPV, with particular attention to coercive control and its implications for practice.
• Recognize clinical indicators and behavioural red flags that may suggest IPV in patients – and then what to do about it.
• Apply trauma‑ and violence‑informed approaches when responding to suspected or disclosed IPV in healthcare and mental health settings.
• Identify appropriate documentation strategies, safety considerations, and referral pathways to support patient well-being
Description:
In terms of reported statistics, in Canada there were almost 130,000 victims of interpersonal violence which includes all genders. Women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected representing nearly 8 and 10 victims of police reported IPV. Every six days a Canadian woman is killed by her partner. Lifetime and self reported prevalence of IPV is higher.
Healthcare professionals are often the earliest point of contact, putting them in a unique position to intervene. Join our eminently qualified speaker, Hannah Varto MN, NP, SANE-A for this important webinar. Hannah will discuss the current Canadian trends in IPV and femicide. She’ll also review the evolving Canadian legal landscape with particular attention to “coercive control” and its implications for practice. She’ll help you identify behavioural red flags, use a trauma informed approach with suspected IPV and help you use appropriate documentation strategies, safety considerations and identify referral pathways.
Who Should Attend?:
• Nurses. NPs, MDs, PAs, EMTs in Primary Care and Emergency Room settings
• Social Workers, Psychiatrists, Psychologists & Counsellors
• Women’s and Sexual Health Nurses
• Nurses in Behavioural and Mental Health Settings
• RN’s in L&D; Midwives and OB-GYNs
• New Forensic and Sexual Assault Examiner Nurses
• Nurse and Allied Health professional in any setting where IPV is of heightened concern
Hannah Varto MN, NP, SANE-A
Nurse Practitioner Hannah Varto brings a bold mix of expertise, curiosity, and spirit to the world of forensic medicine and sexual reproductive health care. She launched her career as a forensic nurse examiner and went on to become British Columbia’s first NP dedicated to forensic practice—a milestone that set the tone for everything that followed.
In 2015, Hannah spearheaded the creation of Embrace Clinic, Canada’s first outpatient clinic for people who’ve recently experienced violence. Never one to slow down, she went on to establish a specialized Strangulation Clinic.
Hannah is keenly involved in research, including a national study exploring blood-based diagnostics for violence‑related brain injuries. She also teaches with BCIT’s Forensic Health Sciences program, sharing her passion for evidence‑informed, survivor‑centred care with the next generation of practitioners. When she’s not teaching or innovating, she provides expert private medical‑legal consulting—bringing clarity, precision, and a steady hand to complex cases.
