Domestic Violence Awareness

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

• Domestic Violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence.
• Other terms for domestic violence include intimate partner violence, battering, relationship abuse, spousal abuse, or family violence.

WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE OR BECOME A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

• Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, income, or other factors.
• Women and men can be victims of domestic violence.

HOW MANY MEN ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS?

• Men are victims of nearly 3 million physical assaults in the USA.

HOW OFTEN DOES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OCCUR?

• 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime.

WHY DOES DOMESTIC ABUSE HAPPEN?

• No victim is to blame for any occurrence of domestic abuse or violence.
• While there is no direct cause or explanation why domestic violence happens, it is caused by the abuser or perpetrator.

WHEN AND WHERE DOES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OCCUR?

• Domestic violence is most likely to take place between 6 pm and 6 am.
• More than 60% of domestic violence incidents happen at home.

WHAT HAPPENS TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

• Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• At least 1/3 of the families using New York City’s family shelter system are homeless due to domestic violence.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN AMERICA: GENERAL STATISTICS AND FACTS

• Women ages 18 to 34 are at greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence.
• More than 4 million women experience physical assault and rape by their partners.
• In 2 out of 3 female homicide cases, females are killed by a family member or intimate partner.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN?

• More than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes every year.
• Children who live in homes where there is domestic violence also suffer abuse or neglect at high rates (30% to 60%).
• Children exposed to domestic violence at home are more likely to have health problems, including becoming sick more often, having frequent headaches or stomachaches, and being more tired and lethargic.
• Children are more likely to intervene when they witness severe violence against a parent – which can place a child at great risk for injury or even death.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON MENTAL HEALTH?

• Domestic violence victims face high rates of depression, sleep disturbances, anxiety, flashbacks, and other emotional distress.
• Domestic violence contributes to poor health for many survivors including chronic conditions such as heart disease or gastrointestinal disorders.
• Most women brought to emergency rooms due to domestic violence were socially isolated and had few social and financial resources.

WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC COST OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

• Domestic violence costs more than $37 billion a year in law enforcement involvement, legal work, medical and mental health treatment, and lost productivity at companies.

WHAT HAPPENS IF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS DO NOT RECEIVE HELP?

• Without help, girls who witness domestic violence are more vulnerable to abuse as teens and adults.
• Without help, boys who witness domestic violence are far more likely to become abusers of their partners and/or children as adults, thus continuing the cycle of violence in the next generation.

#1 FACT: MOST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS ARE NEVER REPORTED.

Help change the facts. Speak up, speak out, and make a difference for victims of domestic violence.

Get Help: Call Free Anonymously To The Domestic Violence Hotline @  1800.799.7233