October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Tough as a Mother is highlighting information and building awareness of relationship violence. Relationship violence disproportionately impacts women and poses a significant risk to pregnant and parenting women and their children. It is one of the top five causes of maternal death in the first year postpartum, and the risk increases during pregnancy.
Domestic violence also impacts the children and youth who witness it. Individuals who witness and/or experience domestic violence are at higher risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder. Children who witness domestic violence in their homes may struggle with learning and behavior issues and are more likely to experience and/or perpetrate domestic violence in their future intimate relationships.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone, and survivors and victims with intersecting identities often have aspects of their identity used against them as tactics of control by their abusers. They also may face additional barriers to seeking help. All of us have a role to play in supporting the safety and recovery of individuals and families impacted by relationship violence. Below is a list of culturally specific organizations providing assistance to victims and survivors:
- Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence
- ASISTA Immigration Assistance
- Esperanza United
- National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
- Tahirih Justice Center
- Ujima: The National Center on Violence against Women in the Black Community
- StrongHearts Native Helpline
