Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Each year since 1987, this national observance gathers us to mourn those lost to domestic violence, celebrate and honor the resilience of those who survive it, and connect our communities in efforts to prevent and respond to domestic violence.
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence (DV) is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, or technological; this includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.
DV is, unfortunately, extremely common. According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men experience physical, emotional, or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. DV can happen to anyone, and everyone deserves care, compassion, and safety in their relationships.
How does DV impact people?
The lifelong impacts of DV cannot be overstated. Experiencing domestic violence is linked across the lifespan with adverse outcomes, including mental health challenges, financial impacts, and complex physical health complications.
DV, Trauma, and Substance Use: a Complex Relationship
The relationship between DV, trauma, and substance use is far from simple. There is not a clear causal pathway between experiences of DV and substance use; however, research suggests that some individuals may use substances to cope with traumatic events or to numb painful experiences.
Experiences of abuse in relationships may also make it more difficult to seek support, recovery, or treatment resources, as isolation is a common tool for power and control. Research suggests that experiences of intimate partner violence have been correlated with decreased participation and retention in treatment, and that physical or financial abuse may contribute to increased use of substances.
How can we help?
Domestic Violence Awareness Month calls on us all to support people in our communities who have experienced DV, listen to them, and connect them with the support they need to thrive. A robust combination of prevention and education, trauma-informed care, direct support services, and societal shifts can increase the likelihood that more people find the support they need and, hopefully, fewer people experience DV over time. Recommendations for a robust approach include:
Education that promotes empathy, consent, and health boundaries from a young age
Public awareness campaigns that de-stigmatize lived experience and encourage help-seeking
Support services that cater to diverse needs and perspectives
Trauma-informed training for professionals
In the New River Valley, the Women’s Resource Center provides 24/7 hotline support, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and other lifesaving resources to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Outside of the NRV, the National Domestic Violence Hotline connects individuals with support and care.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing DV, know that you are not alone. You deserve safety, support, and care; please do not hesitate to call the hotline resources below if you need help.
Hotline Resources
Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley: (540) 639-1123
National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233