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By: Savannah Tipton Survivors are facing increased risks due to the pandemic and needs are on the rise. We need financial contributions now more than ever. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “COVID-19 has caused major economic devastation, disconnected many from community resources and support systems, and created widespread uncertainty and panic. Such conditions may stimulate violence in families where it didn’t exist before and worsen situations in homes where mistreatment and violence has been a problem.” We are seeing more people face financial hardships, housing insecurity, and challenges with their mental health. Victim Advocates connect survivors and their families to life-saving services in a variety of ways. Every day, advocates are working with victims on safety planning, protective order filing, victim rights education, housing searches, employment readiness, and so much more. Anyone can be impacted by domestic violence or sexual assault. It’s important we show survivors that they are not alone in their journey to healing and self-sufficiency. Whether a trauma occurred in the last week or years ago, survivors reach out to us for help finding resources and support. We also must acknowledge that COVID-19 has left many victims trapped in homes with their abusers. “And as the pandemic has dragged on, so too has the abuse. Just as the disease continues to claim more lives, quarantine-linked domestic violence is claiming more victims—and not just women in heterosexual relationships. Intimate partner violence occurs in same-sex couples at rates equal to or even higher than the rates in opposite sex partners (1).” Limited interactions with the outside world can make victims feel trapped in a vicious cycle of abuse. Free resources and confidential support are available. We want victims to know there is a safe way out. Victims of sexual assault are also at a heightened risk. According to RAINN, 8 out of 10 rapes are committed by someone known to the victim (2). This means sexual assault victims might be forced to see their rapist regularly. That alone might make them fearful of reporting the crime or seeking help. Victim Advocates are available to listen, offer support, and answer questions. They can also provide victims accompaniment to hospitals, courts, and law enforcement interviews. If you have ever considered giving, now is the time to act. Survivors need the community to come together. Your donations provide victims with essential items when they flee, emergency transportation to shelter, help relocating or maintaining safe housing after abuse, and other emergency needs. Your donation will have positive impact on people in your community. Speak with a victim advocate by calling our confidential crisis line at (317) 731-6140. You can also reach us through social media messaging or our contact us page. If you are in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1. By: Savannah Tipton  We all know someone who has experienced domestic violence, but we may not know who that is in our lives. Survivors walk among us and are often people we are close with including friends, family, and coworkers. It’s difficult to accept this reality but essential to raise awareness that anyone can be impacted by domestic violence. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.” However, domestic violence is not limited to physical abuse. Other types of abuse include emotional, psychological, spiritual, financial, sexual, and digital. Domestic violence happens daily, and survivors often feel silenced and alone. We want all survivors to know that free and confidential resources are available.
We can all act as an ally to survivors by educating ourselves about domestic violence warning signs and red flags. If you identify warning signs or red flags of domestic violence in your network or your own life, reach out to a local domestic violence agency to discuss next steps and the resources available to you. Talking about domestic violence saves lives. It’s important that we speak up when something does not feel right. Warning Signs of Domestic Violence
Perpetrators of domestic violence are often likable and charismatic. There is no single description for all abusers. They are not always lurking in the shadows or threatening to the outside world as movies might portray. Many abusers get along well socially at work and in their personal lives. Their behavior typically shifts behind closed doors when they are alone with the victim. Most abusers are only violent with their current or past intimate partners (1). They are also extremely manipulative. This includes minimizing the seriousness of the violence, blaming others for their abusive behavior, and breaking down the victim’s self-confidence. Abusers can threaten a victim directly and indirectly including threats of homicide and suicide. Threats and acts of violence are used to take control over the victim. Threats are often made towards friends, family members, children, and pets. A victim might stay in a dangerous situation out of fear for themselves or those they love. “Abusers repeatedly go to extremes to prevent the victim from leaving. In fact, leaving an abuser is the most dangerous time for a victim of domestic violence (2).” Red flags of an Abuser (1)
At Beacon of Hope Crisis Center, we are committed to breaking the cycle while empowering victims and survivors to take back their life. From providing emotional support to safety planning, let us be your advocate. For more information, contact our Confidential Crisis Line: (317) 731-6140. If you are in a life-threatening situation, call 9-1-1 immediately. SOURCE: |
About this blog
This blog is about our domestic and sexual violence crisis center, Beacon of Hope. We hope you find it full of helpful information, motivation, creativity, serious facts and positivity. We hope that it will help you know what is happening in our center, in our community and with our events. We hope you follow our blog in support of our organization and our mission. Archives
October 2024
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