Violence and Abuse Issues: Cross-Cultural Perspectives for Health and Social Services - Hardcover

'The book is highly readable and will prove helpful to students and teachers who wish to engage with the complexity of violence as a social and cultural phenomenon and with creating resources for training professionals to render services to both survivors and perpetrators of violence.' – Culture, Health and Sexuality

'Dr Hoff skilfully dissects the issue of violence from youth to old age and across varied ethnicities and races, demonstrating that this cancer has no boundaries. The potential solutions she presents use a public health approach for widest possible appeal.' – John Casken, University of Hawai’i at Manoa

‘The balance of theory and practice provides scholars and students ways to anchor teaching and applications through real-life narratives and experiences. To practitioners and advocates from any field or background Lee Ann Hoff provides a useful source for accessible knowledge and reported experience to formulate transdisciplinary interventions.’ – Maria Vargas-Moniz, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisboa Portugal

'This is a must-read especially for those of us engaged in addressing both the personal and political aspects of violence and abuse in therapeutic settings.' – Rodolfo R. Nolasco, Jr., Providence Theological Seminary, Canada

'Dr Hoff’s book speaking to the issues of indigenous people is a breath of fresh air to a topic too long relegated to the back pages of history.' – Michael E. Bird, Past President of the American Public Health Association.

After centuries of being considered a private matter in most societies, violence and its profound effect on the physical health, mental health, and social well-being of victims and their families, as well as on the assailants themselves, has started to take centre stage as a public issue of worldwide concern.

Health and social service providers are in pivotal positions to provide preventive and restorative services to those affected by violent and abusive behaviour. This comprehensive textbook presents theoretical background and practical strategies for doing so, providing a solid knowledge base for good practice in this area. It emphasizes the interdisciplinary aspects of violence and victim/survivor care and addresses violence over the lifespan, covering:

• child sexual and physical abuse
• sexual assault of adults
• battering and emotional abuse of intimate partners
• elder abuse
• perpetrators of violence and abuse
• violence in learning and work environments
• vicarious trauma and self-care
• interconnections between various forms of violence, including socially approved violence in the media and in war.

This text is an essential resource for qualified practitioners wanting to learn more about this area and for students starting out in health and social care. Each chapter includes case studies and thinking points, and suggestions for application in practice settings. A companion website provides materials for students and educators, enabling the inclusion of violence issues in an already busy curriculum.

Lee Ann Hoff is a nurse-anthropologist and crisis specialist. She has published widely and is the author of the award-winning textbook People in Crisis. She has extensive experience as an educator, consultant, clinician, and crisis service manager.