This and every October, we recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence can affect anyone — regardless of your class, race, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Domestic Violence is more than just physical abuse — it is a pattern of behaviors that a partner uses against the other person with the purpose of gaining and maintaining power and control in the relationship. These behaviors can include: isolation, financial deprivation, stalking, emotional abuse, and threats to harm partner, children or pets.
Are you thinking about making a change within your relationship?
Does your partner make you feel unsafe?
Is your partner restricting your access to family, friends and financial resources?
According to the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence, these are all common indicators of abuse. If you have answered “yes” to at least one of the questions listed above, there are resources readily available to you.
Always call 911 in an emergency. If you believe someone needs help, let them know they can call the 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at any time at: 800-799-7233
3 things you can do:
If you see or suspect abuse of a love one:
- Encourage them to seek the help of an advocate at their local domestic violence center.
- Reassure them that the abuse is not their fault.
- Allow your loved one the right to make decisions for their safety. Leaving is a dangerous time for survivors; your loved one is the only one that will know when the time is right.