The month of October is dedicated to a lot of wonderful charities, but one that often flies under the radar is Domestic Violence Awareness. This is an amazing charity that, just by talking about it, promotes awareness. The biggest thing that will help put an end to domestic violence is educating the public. Together we can put an end to this cycle of abuse.

1. One in five women and one in seven men have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime

The word I would really like to emphasize here is intimate. This could be someone you care about, and therefore wouldn’t want to say something for fear of the outcome. However, this silence is only aiding and abetting this violent behavior.

2. Women between the ages of 18-24 are most commonly abused by an intimate partner

This age range is primarily college-aged women, and women just starting out their lives. These women aren’t young and naïve, and neither are you. Hold honest conversations with your peers about abuse, and who knows? You may help educate someone who was going through an abuse situation and didn’t even know it.

3. Nearly 1.5 million high school students in the United States are physically abused by dating partners every year

This is a category that may go unnoticed. Most Americans associate domestic violence with women and men who are older and are typically in long-term relationships. The best we can combat this stigma is by educating high school counselors and staff on recognizing the signs of a teen who is in an abusive relationship.

4. Some 19.3 million women and 5.1 million men in the United States have been stalked in their lifetime

Often these stalkings are from a former or current partner.

5. On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide

20,000. Those are just the abuse situations that are even reported. A majority of the time abuse goes unreported.

6. Between 40-45 percent of women in abusive relationships will also be sexually assaulted during the course of the relationship

Sexual assault has many long-term damages, both physically and mentally. Often domestic violence is linked to several mental health diseases, such as depression.

7. Victims of domestic violence may be unable to leave an abusive partner, or may be forced to return to an abusive partner for economic reasons

Often in domestic abuse situations, the abusive partner wants total control. This usually means they control all finances and household spending. This puts them in the dominant situation of taking away all of the victim’s livelihood.

As a woman, friend, daughter, sister and a human, I never want to see someone suffering. SPEAK UP. If you see something, say something. Encouraging others in your community through education and knowledge is just the first step to helping put an end to this cycle of abuse.

Special thank you to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) for having a plethora of information and resources. To learn more about what you can do to spread awareness, visit their website!