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By: Katie Foley  If you’ve noticed that someone you love has been abused or is currently facing abuse from their partner, don’t be alarmed if they come to you and ask for help. While it may be extremely overwhelming to figure out what to do, we’ve created a list of things to keep in mind if this happens.
Be Smart – Show your support by listening and respecting the survivor’s needs. Be smart and remember that this is a dangerous time and your friend may be feeling scared and alone. Assist them by connecting them to community resources or a local victim advocate. Talk More – The only person that can truly tell you what’s going on and how they feel is THAT person. Helping a survivor is crucial for their recovery, but you need to have effective communication to best understand their needs emotionally, physically, and mentally. Sometimes asking, “What can I do?” is more than enough. Safety First - Having a safety plan is crucial in situations involving domestic violence. After talking with a loved one or friend affected by abuse, take the next step by creating a safety plan with the help of a victim advocate. Safety planning includes tips and strategies to keep the victim and those they love safe while preparing for the worst-case scenario. Take Care – Remember, through helping others, that you need boundaries too. Helping a friend affected by domestic violence can be emotionally and mentally draining. While you want to help, you will also be taking on a lot of heartbreak, as you hear what has been happening behind scenes. Make sure you’re practicing self-care by resting, eating, and staying alert – as you need to be in the best shape for yourself and loved one. If you know of someone experiencing domestic violence and you want to help but don’t know how or if you’ve already helped, but want to give him or her more resources – call our crisis hotline Monday through Friday 8:30am - 4:30 pm at (317) 731-6140.
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By: Katie Foley  Victim advocates at Beacon of Hope Crisis Center understand that asking for help can be difficult. Even the smallest things like needing a few extra dollars to buy food or a ride to an appointment can bring anxiety and guilt. Despite these challenges we encourage you to reach out and ask for help.
While asking for help in situations such as sexual assault and/or domestic violence can be scary, victim advocates can help you find the resources and assistance you need to get safe, stay safe and ultimately truly begin to feel safe. Domestic violence and sexual assault can happen to anyone – young or old, rich or poor, and from any ethnic or religious background. You may be experiencing different forms of abuse and we, at Beacon of Hope, want to encourage you to take that first step and call. We know that it can be difficult to talk about your situation, especially if you’re afraid, but we want to help. We offer a Crisis Call Center for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault seeking help from current and past traumas. Our advocates will listen, assist with safety planning, let you know what all is available for you to break free, and give you the help that you need. By taking the step and making that phone call today, you can receive counseling, referrals to shelters and housing assistance, court advocacy, and life training skills to get back on your feet. We’re here for you and if needing to talk, call our Crisis Call Line Monday-Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm at: (317) 731-6140. |
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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