It’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Don’t stay silent.

Don’t stay silent. It’s time to speak up all month long.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence affects millions of people, both women and men, in every community and from all cultures, religions and social backgrounds. Today, we recognize it’s not just punching and kicking. Domestic violence includes yelling, humiliation, stalking, manipulation, coercion, threats and isolation. It’s stealing or hiding money, keeping tabs on social media, non-stop texting, the silent treatment and insults that never seem to stop, negativity and belittling, sabotage and causing fear or panic without merit. 

As we share our experiences this October, we remember the Violence Against Women Act which passed in 1994. This landmark legislation holds offenders accountable and provides programs and services for victims. Every October, we rededicate ourselves to breaking the cycle of violence.  

DID YOU KNOW?

• In the United States, an average of 20 people experience intimate partner physical violence every minute. This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually.
• 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, posttraumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. 
• 1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner.
• 1 in 10 women have been raped by an intimate partner. 
• 1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked. 
• On a typical day, domestic violence hotlines nationwide receive over 20,000 calls.
• Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime

Rates of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and stalking are high, with intimate partner violence occurring in over 10 million people each year. 

TAKE A STAND!

 Our call to action brings attention to the issue of domestic violence this month and throughout the year.  By taking a stand we acknowledge there are still countless people – victims and survivors, their families and friends, as well as their communities that we will not stop until society has zero tolerance for domestic violence and all victims and survivors are heard. 

Many communities throughout the country have developed support networks to assist victims in the process of recovery.  If you need assistance or know someone who needs help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

No person should be subjected to the fear and shame of an abusive relationship. This National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let’s educate ourselves and each other so that we may support our friends or family members who are fighting to free themselves from abuse and unite to give a voice to those who suffer in silence.

About Niznik Behavioral Health

Niznik Behavioral Health is a national provider of behavioral health services for adolescents and adults with Joint Commission accredited facilities specializing in a full continuum of care including safe and comfortable medical detox programs, residential treatment, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and outpatient (OP) services, as well as assistance with aftercare through our Alumni programs. 

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