Domestic Violence Awareness

By April Cooper, MSW student

For many of us October is a month we look forward to all year. It is filled with cooler weather, beautiful colors, falling leaves, pumpkins, hayrides and CANDY! Over the last couple of years social media has coined the term “Spooky Szn” in reference to October and the most frightening holiday we celebrate – better yet known as Halloween. Aside from the ghouls and goblins there is a reality that we face that is much scarier. What you may not know is that October is also Domestic Violence Awareness month. For many this is a very frightening reality that extends far beyond “Spooky Szn.”

What is Domestic Violence?

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence it is defined as the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It can include the following:

·       Physical violence

·       Sexual violence

·       Psychological violence

·       Emotional Abuse

What are the stats?

·       5 million acts of domestic violence occur annually to women 18 & older

·       1 in 4 women / 1 in 7 men will experience physical violence by their intimate partner at some point during their lifetime

·       1 in 3 women / 1 in 6 men experience some form of sexual violence during their lifetime

·       1 in 6 women/ 1 in 19 men have experienced stalking

·       There are 40 deaths annually in Kentucky due to Domestic Violence

Considering the statistics, chances are that you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence in some form.

Domestic Violence & Mental Health

According to the American Psychiatric Association approximately 20% of domestic violence survivors reported a new onset of psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and a wide range of substance abuse disorders. In addition, survivors may also experience difficulty in new relationships, emotional regulation, facial interpretation and the reading of social cues.

There is hope…

•     National Domestic Violence Hotline available 24/7

  •    1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)

  •   Text “Start” to 88788

•    www.thehotline.org

•     Oasis Women’s Shelter

  •   Ohio County (270) 298-4485

  •   Daviess County (270) 685-0260

•     National Sexual Assault Hotline

  •    1-800-656-4673 (HOPE)

• Rainn.org

•     National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

  •   1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

We, here at Kentucky Counseling Partner’s, want to help. If you are a survivor of domestic violence and are experiencing related mental health issues please contact our office to schedule an appointment at (270) 504-0068.

*The Kentucky Counseling Partner’s phone number is not an emergency hotline and will only be answered during normal business hours.