GBV help‐seeking and service provision during the COVID ‐19 pandemic: A review of impacts and responses

Abstract

This article shares results from a systematic review, exploring the pandemic's impacts on help‐seeking and community‐based services in North America. We aimed to identify shifts in help‐seeking, community need and community supports and to highlight innovations and best practices. We searched ProQuest, Scholars Portal Journals and Web of Science databases, including English, peer‐reviewed research studies on GBV help‐seeking and/or service provision during the pandemic for review. After a two‐stage screening process, a thematic analysis identified themes and gaps. Findings show that during the pandemic, victims/survivors faced additional barriers to help‐seeking and structural inequality created intertwined crises. Many organizations adjusted services, adapted service formats and collaborated to respond to growing complexity and need. The literature emphasizes multi‐faceted strategies necessary to address emerging and ongoing needs; however, it also raises questions about the organizational capacity and stability required to respond effectively to GBV. We explore findings and offer recommendations for policy and practice.