Members of the media may directly contact:
Nicole Racine (English and French)
Director of the Early Lab; Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the Faculty of Social Sciences; and Chair in Child and Youth Mental Health, CHEO.
nracine2@uottawa.ca
Professor Racine can comment on the following topics:
Ontario lacks evidence-based interventions for men who use violence
“Ontario has very few evidence-based programs for men and fathers who perpetrate violence—despite men being the primary perpetrators of IPV. Without strong evaluation standards, sustained investment, and research-to-policy pathways, we risk continuing to fund interventions that may not reduce harm—and women and children ultimately bear the consequences.”
Structural determinants of violence and why prevention must go beyond the individual
“Violence does not occur in a vacuum. Poverty, housing insecurity, discrimination, inadequate childcare, and lack of mental health supports increase vulnerability to violence.”
What works: evidence-based strategies to reduce violence and support recovery
“Home-visiting programs, trauma-informed parenting interventions, flexible perinatal mental health care, and community-based supports reduce violence risk and improve maternal and child mental health.”
The hidden impact of violence on infants and young children
“Although conversations about violence against women often focus on adult survivors, infants and young children are among the most profoundly affected. Exposure to violence—even when children do not directly witness it—shapes early brain development, stress physiology, attachment security, and long-term emotional health. Our research shows that IPV is one of the most common forms of early adversity, with clear implications for mental health across the lifespan.”