October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence, also known as Intimate Partner Violence, affects over 12 million people a year. Studies show that in adults 18 and older, one in four women and one in seven men have been victims of physical abuse by an intimate partner.

Fifteen percent of women and 4% of men have had injuries as a result of domestic violence. According to Battered Women’s Support Services, domestic violence relationships become 75% more lethal for the first two years after a victim leaves.

However, there is more to Domestic Violence Awareness than just these statistics. While knowing the statistics is a large part of being aware and informed, the purpose of Domestic Violence Awareness Month is to honor the survivors and victims. In doing so, it is important to address some of the ways we can support survivors. When supporting a survivor, it is important to understand why they may have stayed with their abuser.

Some of the reasons that survivor stays include:

• Fear: Often the consequences of leaving an abusive relationship are more of a threat than staying.
  
• Shame: Some survivors struggle to speak out about their abuse due to a sense of shame, or not wanting to admit they are being abused. For some their abuser even convinces them that they are the one in the wrong or have somehow instigated the abuse.
  
• Lack of resources: Survivors may be completely financially dependent on their abusive partner. Leaving the situation would mean giving up all of their money, their home, their belongings and starting over.
  
• Love: Survivors can be caught up on their feelings for their abuser. Often reminiscing of how the person was at the beginning of the relationship.

There are many other reasons a survivor may be hesitating to leave their abusive relationship, these are just some examples. It is never productive to try to convince a loved one to leave their abuser, they have to make that decision on their own.

Once a survivor in your life makes the decision to leave, here are some ways you can support them:

• Emotional Support: Provide moral support, assist them in regaining control of their situation.
  
• Safety Planning: A set plan that helps ensure safety in a survivor’s day to day life.
  
• Material Support: Help assist with housing, food, healthcare, and transportation needs, or connect them with a victim advocate who can.
  
• Protective Orders: Help the survivor keep track of instances of abuse and document them in order to assist filing a protective order. A protective order would legally prevent the abuser from contacting the survivor and if broken by the abuser would constitute law enforcement involvement. Protective Orders can be filed at the County Clerk’s office here in Huntington at 201 N. Jefferson Street, Room 201.

Encourage use of the Hotline: survivors can call or text (800) 799-7233 for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.