According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. These startling numbers show that we might not know what’s going on behind the closed doors of even our closest friends and family. It’s time to take a stand.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we at Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C. want to be a part of the solution that puts an end to this unthinkable crime. You have a chance to be an advocate for victims and survivors— to offer your support and solidarity. Below, we’ve come up with various ways you can participate this month.
Getting Involved
Use your voice: Each of you has a unique voice and platform. With the world at our fingertips through social media, you can spread awareness. The No More Project has created a special campaign for 2020, keeping in mind how COVID-19 has affected victims of domestic abuse. Learn more about it here! They also created free creative assets so you can easily share your support. They offer more ways on how you can make an impactful change here.
Educate yourself and others: If you are interested in more ways to help your community, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) offers many ways to get involved. An easy way to help is to educate those around you about abuse, violence prevention, and building healthy relationships.
Offer support: If you know someone who may be experiencing abuse, it can be difficult to know how to help. Understand that abusive relationships are not easy to leave but that you are there to be supportive and listen. Encourage them to talk to someone who can provide guidance, such as a local domestic violence agency, counseling, or support group.
If you are in an abusive relationship and concerned for your safety, you can talk to a trained advocate privately at the NDVH by calling 1-800-799-7233 or visiting their website. Once you are safe, our domestic violence attorneys can help you file for an order of protection so that you can feel safe at home again.
Call Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C. at (312) 487-2795 if you have any questions about obtaining an order of protection.