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Supporting Survivors at the Intersection of Mental Health and Gender-Based Violence: Approaches for Practice

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Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 | 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET

Presented by: Eva Zachary

Across our networks, service providers are increasingly naming mental health complexity as one of the most challenging areas in their day-to-day work.

Across GBV and allied sectors, service providers working directly with survivors continue to demonstrate deep commitment and adaptability as they respond to increasingly complex mental health needs. Many service providers are supporting individuals experiencing crisis, co-occurring risks, stigma, and trauma responses — all while working within systemic limitations that shape what support is possible.

Strengthening cross-sector collaboration, communication, and shared understanding can create more informed, compassionate, and empowering responses for survivors.

In this Special Event, Eva Zachary, Executive Director of Muskoka Victim Services, will explore the realities, pressures, and possibilities at the intersection of mental health and gender-based violence. Drawing on practice experience, provincial case review insights, and cross-sector crisis response, Eva will highlight practical, trauma- and violence-informed strategies for reducing stigma, responding to mental health concerns, and supporting survivor safety, autonomy, and dignity — even within system-level constraints.

Learning Objectives

By participating in this Special Event, participants will enhance their ability to:

• Recognize key mental health considerations that arise in the context of GBV, including how trauma, crisis responses, and mental health challenges intersect with patterns observed in practice and case reviews.
• Identify how stigma, misconceptions, and systemic constraints can shape survivors’ experiences of safety, help-seeking, and access to support.
• Apply practical, trauma- and violence-informed strategies for supporting survivors presenting with mental health concerns, including approaches for responding to crisis and co-occurring risks.
• Explore opportunities to strengthen communication, organizational practices, and cross-sector collaboration across GBV, mental health, and allied systems, including navigating role limitations while contributing to coordinated, survivor-centred response planning.

Speaker

Eva Zachary is the Executive Director of Muskoka Victim Services and a long-time advocate for survivors, with more than 15 years of experience in conflict resolution, crisis intervention, victim advocacy, and community collaboration. She holds designations as a Community and Workplace Traumatologist, Trauma Services Specialist, and Compassion Fatigue Educator, and is certified in mediation and critical incident stress management. 

Eva is a member of Ontario’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee (DVDRC) with the Office of the Chief Coroner, serves on the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Victim Assistance Committee, and advises the Ontario Network of Victim Service Providers. In her independent practice, she provides mediation services and training to frontline workers and social service providers. 

Register now