ABSTRACT
Victimization by violence knows few, if any, national, ethnic, religious, or other boundaries (United Nations, 1996). Despite civil rights legislation, nationally and internationally, violence continues, extending from domestic to community and global arenas, and often originating from bias based on gender, race, disability, and/or sexual identity. Immigrants and refugees usually face triple jeopardy because of social isolation, language barriers, and fear of deportation if they seek help. This chapter addresses violence and abuse from the perspective of victim/survivors (including healthcare workers) as well as their assailants. Its focus is on the pivotal role of primary care providers (PCPs) in prevention, crisis intervention, and on explicit and potentially life-saving linkages with crisis and trauma specialists. The emphasis on early detection in primary care is based on extensive interdisciplinary research and practice with victim/survivors, revealing the risk of serious and often long-term medical and mental health sequelae when support and crisis counseling are lacking at the time of victimization by violence (Campbell, 1998; Dobash & Dobash, 1998; Everett & Gallop, 2000; Figley & Nash, 2005; Herman, 1992; Hoff, 1990; Rynearson, 2006; Stark, Flitcraft, & Frazier, 1979; Wiehe, 1998; and Wilson, 2006).
