As first observed in 1981, October has been seen as the official Domestic Violence Awareness Month, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
The month of October seeks to bring understanding of what domestic violence is. Domestic violence is violent or aggressive behavior within the home, typically involving the violent behavior of a spouse, or partner, according to Oxford Languages.
It is also important to know that this problem is a serious issue. It is a lot more common than many might assume.
According to the Oregon Health and Science University, “1 in 4 women, 1 in 7 men, and up to half of transgender and non-binary individuals will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Youth are also affected in high numbers: 1 in 3 teens will experience some form of relationship abuse.”
Omaha North High Counseling Department sees the importance of talking about domestic violence to students of all grade levels.
“I want everyone to know that they are not alone, and they shouldn’t be afraid to tell someone,” said Kevin Custard, North High School Counseling Director.
It is also important to spread awareness to educate people on how common Domestic violence is. Omaha North High School does their job to spread awareness through talking about it in classrooms, putting up fliers and giving students access to resources they need if they are in unsafe situations.
Contacting the school social worker or personal school counselor is always an available option if the student feels comfortable with involving the school. If students would rather contact an outside of school resource, contacting Child Protective Services (CPS) or even calling 911 would be a good solution.
As well as spreading awareness, teaching students in schools about what domestic violence is can be helpful. In some situations, it may be difficult for victims to confide in others.
Custard advises students who may be confused to “trust your gut, and that if it feels wrong, it probably is wrong.”
In situations where a student may suspect a friend or someone they know is involved in domestic violence, it is necessary for the student to know that they should not take matters into their own hands. It is not their job as a high school student to stand up for their friend, as it could put them both in danger. Instead, they should contact a trusted adult or counselor at their school.
Domestic Violence is an issue that is important to be talked about due to the mental and physical effects that can be carried out throughout the victim’s life. Victims of Domestic violence commonly experience PTSD, depression, anxiety and an increased likelihood of suicidal thoughts.
This is extremely serious and makes it even more important to spread awareness not just through the month of October, but the rest of the year as well.
According to the National Institute of Health “Among women who attempted suicide, one in three have experienced IPV (intimate partner violence) in the past year, and among men who have attempted suicide it was 1 in 10.”
“The biggest misconception students struggle with about experiencing domestic violence is that the victim believes it is somehow their fault,” said Kristin Longacre, a school counselor at Omaha North High School.
Mental health is important to prioritize no matter what the person has gone through. So, it is necessary for schools to prioritize the mental health of their students.
If you or someone you know is struggling with being a victim of domestic violence, please call 800-799-7233.
