York Region raises alarm about 'steady increase' of strangulation in domestic cases

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Taking your breath away takes on a literal meaning in the context of intimate partner violence.

Earlier this month, a public awareness campaign was launched in York Region to highlight assaults specifically involving strangulation.

“What we’re seeing in these last two years is a steady increase of strangulation,” Jaspreet Gill, executive director at York Region Centre for Community Safety, said in a video message.

“There is definitely a lack of awareness of just how serious strangulation is.”

The campaign, titled “Taking Your Breath Away,” is aimed at educating victims and survivors of intimate partner violence and informing them of support systems and frontline service options.

“When you’re able to access supports and resources, you can begin to see that there is in fact a future that doesn’t look like the present,” said Gill.

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The agency says there is a difference between strangulation and choking: The former is when outside pressure is applied to the neck, while the latter is when an obstruction — like a piece of food — is lodged in the throat or windpipe.

Victims of strangulation become unconsciousness within 10 seconds. At 15 seconds, they begin having seizures and lose control of their bladder and lose bowel control after about 30 seconds. More than a minute without oxygen and/or blood to head and the victim is brain dead.

Intimate partner violence has been declared an epidemic in York Region as police said they respond to more than 6,000 calls every year. Last year, more than 6,800 incidents were reported.

However, authorities said incidents of intimate partner violence are underreported.

“In 2023, we served over 650 adult survivors and over 900 of their children,” said Gill, adding that the organization aims to help victims become empowered and reclaim control of their lives.

In April, the provincial government advanced a bill that would declare intimate partner violence an epidemic in Ontario.

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The York campaign, meanwhile, came ahead of an annual international campaign, running from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, that speaks out against gender-based violence.

Sadly, strangulation is one of the best predictors for femicide.

According to San Diego-based Alliance for HOPE International, women who have been strangled just once — whether it be by their partner’s hands, arm or an object on her neck — are 750% more likely to be killed at the hands of their partner.

The York Region agency said being strangled is never safe, including when couples have what they may term as “rough sex,” inspired by scenes in pornographic videos. In Canada, a partner cannot legally consent to having oxygen and blood flow cut off.

Meanwhile, about half of cases of strangulation leave no visible injury. In addition, men who strangle their partners are likely to strangle their children as well. Which means the awareness campaign and resources available to victims can help save lives.

“The work that we do is so essential,” Gill said. “The work that all of us do to support survivors of intimate partner violence, domestic violence, is absolutely vital.”