On average, 20 people are physically abused by their partners every minute. There are 10 million victims of abuse every year.
October looks to spread awareness to end this tragically high number. Oct. 19 is #PurpleThursday, which spreads awareness and provides recognition for domestic violence survivors.
In 2023, the Start the Conversation: Engaging Men and Boys campaign by the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence began. The campaign encourages men and boys to take the pledge and speak up against gender-based violence.
Men are more likely to not speak out about the abuse they received. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women suffer from abuse by their partners, and one in four men suffer from abuse by their partners.
A witness of domestic violence who chose to remain anonymous, said, “It mostly happened when I was younger, but most of the women in my family were victims of domestic violence.”
They witnessed their grandmother and several of their aunts receive abuse from their partners. More recently, they saw their mother’s partner threaten them with a firearm.
According to Children & Domestic Violence Statistics, nearly 5 million children witness domestic violence yearly. Over 40 million Americans have grown up living with domestic violence.
Witnessing domestic violence in childhood is related to lower test scores, learning deficiencies, and issues with attention and memory. Witnessing domestic violence can also age a child prematurely up to 10 years.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233, where people can call or text confidentially to receive help 24/7.
When people may feel they need to leave their homes and need a safe space to stay, the Refuge House provides services for domestic violence and sexual assault victims in Leon County and seven neighboring counties.
The Refuge House states on its website, “Our emergency shelters offered a safe refuge for 418 women, children and men, and our transitional housing program provided a long-term, supportive home for 33 women and children.”
Signs of someone suffering from domestic abuse can be depression or a behavior change, unexplained marked injuries, or they are making excuses for their partner’s behavior.
People can help victims of domestic abuse by simply starting a conversation with them, making themselves available, and listening without judgment. Validate the survivor’s feelings and allow them to express their feelings even if they may be conflicting.