StatsCan finds people with mental health-related disabilities more likely to be victims of assault

StatsCan figures indicate that people with mental health-related disabilities are more than twice as likely to be assaulted than those who aren't. The agency finds that:

• 10% of Canadians with a mental health-related disability reported incidents of abuse or assault against them - a figure that rises to 13% for Alberta's urban centres, which combines Calgary and Edmonton;
• Less than 4% of Canadians without a mental health-related disability who reported an assault;
• Women with a mental health disability are three times more as likely to be victims of sexual assault compared to those with no mental disability;
• People with a mental health disability are often "victimized" by someone they know; and
• Victims with mental health disabilities are less likely to report incidents of assault to police, with 22% of victims coming forward, versus 31% of victims without a mental health disability.

Related News:
La victimisation avec violence chez les Canadiens ayant une incapacité liée à la santé mentale, 2014 - Statistique Canada