Raising Awareness of Domestic Violence
St. Mary’s County officials proclaimed October to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Photo courtesy of St. Mary’s County Public Information Office
The St. Mary’s County commissioners recently proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the county. The commissioners are hoping to bring increased awareness of the problem to the citizens of St. Mary’s County, and they work with several local agencies to do so, including Walden Behavioral Health.
This crime violates the victim’s privacy, security, dignity, and humanity. Abusers use a variety of tactics against their victims, including physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and economic control or abuse against their spouses, children, and the elderly.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused in the US. This means that more than 10 million women and men per year are victimized. One in five women and one in seven men have been victims of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
“These studies further indicate that on a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide,” said Commissioner Tom Jarboe (1st District) during the proclamation. “One in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90 percent of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.”
During October, community groups and agencies step up their efforts to fight domestic violence with a confidential, coordinated community response, include the St. Mary’s County Family Violence Coordinating Council. The council works with agencies like MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, Southern Maryland Family Advocacy Center, St. Mary’s County Department of Social Services, Three Oaks Center and Walden. These resources come together to help victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault.
To recognize the vital work being done by these groups, and in declaring National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in St. Mary’s County, citizens are urged to work toward improving victim safety and further increase awareness about how to prevent, recognize and stop domestic violence.
Throughout the month, visit the Lexington Park Library gallery to see the Walden Domestic Violence Awareness Clothesline Display. The display is supported by the St. Mary’s County Arts Council. Learn more at www.stmalib.org.
For more information about Walden Behavioral Health, visit their Leader Member Page.
