1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced physical violence from their partner. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, dedicated to creating awareness about the topic and the many individuals who have experienced domestic violence.
Domestic Violence can be represented in many different forms and may vary cases by case. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), there are over 20,000 phone calls to domestic violence hotlines on a typical day. Due to this significant statistic, it is important that people know the facts, warning signs, and resources that are available to individuals in these situations.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline outlines some, but not limited to, common signs of abusive behaviors to pay attention to:
Discouraging their partner from spendingtime with family and friends
Getting jealous and causing issues when their partner does spend time with family and friends
Insulting or belittling their partner in private and publicly
Pressuring their partner into sexual activities
Pressuring their partner to do drugs or drink alcohol
Destroying their partner’s belongings during or after arguments
It's important to recognize that adults are not the only victims of domestic violence, but so too are teens and children. Many teens and children are exposed to domestic violence in their homes. OASH explains that children that are exposed to these violent behaviors are likely to experience long-term effects on their mental and physical health, as well as being potentially more likely to continue this cycle when they are adults, but this should not be considered a causal effect.
Additionally, verywellmind shared some signs to look out for individuals who may be experiencing domestic violence:
Constant bruising on arms
Red marks or scratches around the neck
Black eyes
Some might try to hide bruises with scarves or long sleeves in warm weather
Wearing makeup that is heavier than usual
Sunglasses to hide bruising around eyes
Anxiety or depression
Being overly apologetic
Being fearful or defensive when talking about their partner or relationship
The hotline to call for help is 800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
You can also visit https://thehotline.org/ and they have a quick exit button on the top right hand corner for protection purposes.
By Mel Laureano, Contributing Writer
Graphic by Shae-Lynn Henderson, EIC
Comments