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