The focus of male violence against women is usually on the victim but it’s also important to address the perpetrator of the abuse, says Jeff Hedderson, social marketing and development co-ordinator for John Howard Society of Peterborough.

“Men’s services are just an area that kind of gets looked over,” says Jeff in a telephone interview.

“We can’t ignore the problem part of it, as well.”

REACH Prevention Ontario -- Referrals, Education, Assessments, Counselling, Help – is the steering committee for the project. The local John Howard Society is working with other agencies, institutions and individuals on the initiative. The committee will submit a five-year funding proposal to the Ontario Trillium Foundation in October.

If the money is received, a crisis line will be established to serve areas including Peterborough, City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Muskoka-Parry Sound, Durham, Northumberland and Simcoe for the first year as a pilot project. Plans are then to gradually extend the service throughout the entire province.

Its intent is to provide men with a place to turn when they are taking steps towards acknowledging their abusive or violent behaviour, according to the John Howard Society.

“It’s come out of discussions that men often go to their buddies in their down time,” says Theodon Robertson, executive director of the society, in an e-mail interview.

“But it’s been observed that if a man is already upset, going to his friends can sometimes exacerbate an already difficult situation, rather than control it,” she says.

“The idea is to have someone to call when you know things are getting out of hand, to make that call to a counsellor and get engaged in prevention,” says Theodon. “(The crisis line) is very prevention-focused.”

Jeff says men currently access help through advertisements, word of mouth and referrals from other community agencies.

If funding is received, the launch is expected in the fall of 2004. The line would be run by a full-time counselor, support staff and volunteers, says Jeff. It would operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Lynn Zimmer, executive director of the YWCA of Peterborough, Victoria and Haliburton, says the women’s organization supports the development of the crisis line.

“We have been in touch with the John Howard throughout the development process,” she says, noting the YWCA has agreed to join the collaborative with other community agencies.

She notes while there is frequent debate about whether money should be spent on the victims or perpetrators of abuse, “if we truly believe people can change” then the crisis line “is something worth trying.”

“The ability to make an anonymous phone call…is really an important first step,” says Lynn.

According to literature provided by the John Howard Society of Peterborough, men have sought help when it is available. In Victoria, BC four years ago, six advertisements in a local newspaper sparked 500 men to call for help. A similar service in Calgary, AB has attracted up to 100 callers monthly.

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