Alaska women with mental health challenges, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic alcohol use disorder, and other brain disorders are much more likely than women without these conditions to experience intimate partner and sexual violence, according to new research.
The findings come from the Alaska Victimization Survey 2020, conducted by the University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center with funding from the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
The survey of 2,100 respondents found extremely high rates of violence against Alaska women overall. For example, nearly half of all Alaska women surveyed said they have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetimes (47.8 percent) and four in 10 have suffered sexual violence (40.3 percent). Nearly six in 10 Alaska women (57.6 percent) have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both during their lifetimes.
But having a mental health, substance misuse or developmental disability can make Alaska women much more vulnerable to these violent crimes. Researchers found that of the Alaska women surveyed who said they experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, half would be considered beneficiaries of the Alaska Mental Health Trust
The Trust was established in 1956 to benefit Alaskans with mental illness, development disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic alcohol or drug addiction, dementia, and traumatic brain injuries.
The Alaska Victimization Survey also found that Alaska women who were Trust beneficiaries were twice as likely to have experienced four for more Adverse Childhood Experiences than women who were non-beneficiaries. Adverse childhood experiences include verbal and emotional abuse, mental illness in the home, substance abuse in the home, separation or divorce, sexual or physical abuse, being a witness to domestic violence, and having a family member incarcerated.
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