Since 1989, October has been recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the United States. This month serves as a great opportunity to support survivors of domestic violence and ensure you are educated on the forms domestic violence can take, as well as the many national and local resources available if you find yourself in a harmful situation.
While you may have a baseline understanding of domestic violence, it’s crucial to learn that domestic violence is a much broader thing than many people realize.
Firstly, let’s define domestic violence. Oftentimes, the terms “Domestic Violence” (DV) and “Intimate Partner Violence” (IPV) are used interchangeably, but they have slightly different meanings. “Domestic Violence” is violence among people in a domestic situation– roommates, family members, or romantic partners. “Intimate Partner Violence” is violence perpetrated in a romantic relationship, whether they’re living together or not. Additionally, this violence is a spectrum: no one is immune to being a victim of domestic violence. It can occur verbally, physically, online or in person.
Women and men can be victims of DV, and it doesn’t discriminate based on age, either. According to the National Domestic Abuse Hotline, 69% of female victims and 53% of male victims of intimate partner violence had their first IPV experience before the age of 25. Even more concerningly, 58% of college students don’t know what to do to help someone who is a victim of dating abuse. This is incredibly alarming and truly showcases just how important Domestic Violence Awareness Month is.
If you are a survivor or a current victim of domestic violence, remember it is never your fault. No one deserves to experience abuse. To better understand the warning signs of abuse, visit www.thehotline.org/identify-abuse/domestic-abuse-warning-signs/. But if you or someone you know here at ETSU is experiencing domestic violence, where do you even begin to help them?
There are several different ways. Locally, the ETSU Dean of Students office is a great resource for anonymously requesting help for another student by filing a CARE Report. If you’ve experienced a Title IX violation, you can also report it through the Dean of Students’ office. Visit them in person on the 3rd floor of the Culp Center, or online at www.etsu.edu/students/dean-students/. The Johnson City and Washington County Family Justice Center also supports domestic violence victims across the city and throughout Washington County by providing safe and confidential services. They are located at 196 Montgomery Street, Johnson City, and you can reach them at (423)-722-3720.
Nationally, the Domestic Abuse Hotline can be reached by text (“START” to 88788) or call (1-800-799-7233), available 24/7. Their website also contains valuable national and state-based resources for the United States. The best way to help someone trying to get out of a domestic violence situation, though, is to be compassionate and listen to the survivor. Leaving a DV situation is incredibly complex. Meeting the survivor where they are and supporting them when they need it is the best option.
Remember, it is never your fault, and you always have someone there to support you, whether you realize it or not.
