“Domestic Violence Awareness Month was first introduced in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. It was created not only to bring more awareness to others but to connect and unify the millions of affected victims battered due to domestic violence.” (from https://domesticviolence.org)
Many people think physical abuse is the only form of domestic violence. However, this is just one form of harm.
Other types include:
- emotional abuse
- mental abuse
- sexual abuse
- economic abuse
- spiritual abuse
- monitoring or stalking
- online harassment
- Intimate partner
- Child abuse
- Elder abuse
Abusers want to maintain control over their partner, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or other relatives. They usually have a pattern, and in many cases, the abuse escalates creating psychological and physical harm to the victim. “In the United States alone, roughly 10 million people experience domestic violence annually. Among adults, this equates to 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men,” according to www.healthline.com.
Abuse is more common than we think. Educating ourselves and others on not only physical but also the lesser-known types of abuse can help us spot the signs and empower victims and survivors to come forward. We can further bring awareness to this problem and finding ways to support victims and survivors by being judgement free, offering resources, to seek counseling, encouraging friends and loved ones of victims to be more aware and provide support and assistance to leave their abuser. Use this month, and throughout the year to advocate for victims and survivors by bringing light to the multiple forms of domestic violence, to help people escape harmful relationships and break cycles of abuse.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, contact our advocate 24/7 @ The Safe Place 1-888-554-2501 or reach out to www.thesafeplacearkasas.com to learn how you can help someone in need.
References:
https://domesticviolence.org/domestic-violence-awareness-month/
https://www.healthline.com/health/when-is-domestic-violence-awareness#supporting-victims
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