Domestic Violence is a Public Health Issue

Message from our CEO:  Sandra Ziebold

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This month, we are placing a heightened focus on educating as many people as possible about the reality that domestic violence is a public health issue. In too many cases, it is often also a medical emergency.  Domestic violence is about power and control and is highly stressful.  When you are stuck in fight or flight mode from long-term trauma, it can cause the stress hormone cortisol to reach very high levels. In stressful situations, your adrenal glands produce more cortisol. Sustained high-stress hormones can increase the risk of severe health problems.

Thank you for helping us amplify our messaging this October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month and beyond. Your supportive shares, donated items, and financial gifts that enable us to help many, mean the world to us.

The work that our victim advocates do every day is critical to helping those in need connect the dots to achieve safety and a future free from the grip of domestic violence. That knot of fear in a victim's gut can shrink and heal. Victim advocates are skilled at identifying lethality risk, and we want anyone living in emotional or physical fear because of violence to reach out and lean on us. We can help mitigate the barriers that seem impossible.

In September alone, we served 102 new victims, and at the same time, our small, amazing team of victim advocates also provided 1,670 case management services to existing survivors. Out of the 102 new clients that requested assistance, eleven disclosed that they were homeless, ten disclosed a disability, twelve had limited English proficiency, three disclosed being in a same-sex relationship, one disclosed being deaf, six disclosed being immigrants, and four disclosed they were pregnant. Forty out of the one hundred and two cases had children living in the home, and sixteen of the one hundred and two cases had DCS involvement where the child/children were the victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault or witnessed the violence.

Among the 102 new victims were 14 cases of stalking/harassment, one kidnapping, four violations of protective orders, and 22 victims of strangulation. The level of violence and the complexity of the situations are alarming among those we are serving, and we need your help to join in this fight with us to help so many suffering in this way in our community right here in central Indiana. Yes, this is happening in our neighborhoods. You may wonder why they don't just leave, but in many of these high-lethal situations, it is hard to get away, and letting anyone know could bring harm to the victim, as there is an increased threat to their lives as they seek to flee.

According to the Violence Policy Center, research shows that state laws restricting those under domestic violence restraining orders from accessing firearms and laws allowing the warrantless arrest of those in violation of domestic violence restraining orders are associated with reductions in intimate partner homicide. Murder-suicides are horrific and violent events that often involve families, intimate partners, and children.  The impact this violence has on survivors and communities is significant and all too often unacknowledged.

Please continue to help amplify this message. Will you join us and help in whatever way is comfortable and within your time and financial means?  This task is large, and we need you.

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References: 
https://vpc.org/revealing-the-impacts-of-gun-violence/murder-suicide/