October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Navy encourages Sailors to Speak Up!
24 October 2016
The month of October is designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Navy is working to raise awareness by informing Sailors of options available to reporting domestic violence and means to help prevent it. "The Department of Defense is fully committed to strengthening military families and preventing domestic abuse," said Galena Kuiper, a Counseling and Advocacy Supervisor at Fleet and Family Support Center Annapolis. "DV awareness month is intended to inform the community about the damage caused to individuals, children, long-term health care, work productivity, and community safety from domestic violence."
Bases throughout the DoD are highlighting resources available to Sailors, and their families, that help support healthy relationships and give information on how witnesses of domestic violence should respond.
"It is important to speak about domestic violence," said Kuiper. "Domestic violence too often goes unnoticed; a silent crime. Having Sailors become aware is important to gaining support and helping victims of domestic violence."
Domestic abuse cuts across all religions, sexual orientations, age groups, and social classes (ranks). Victims can be Sailors as well as spouses/intimate partners. Navy leaders may encounter Sailors experiencing distress as a result of domestic abuse.
Abuse is preventable and is often treatable if addressed promptly. Through prevention, Navy leaders can promote family resilience and sailor mission readiness. Therefore, knowing how to prevent abuse and respond to reports of abuse is crucial to mission readiness.
If you are in an abusive relationship, contact Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647. You may also contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). OCONUS personnel can seek assistance from the Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center at 1-866-USWOMEN (879-6636).
You can find the nearest Fleet and Family Service Center in your area at
www.ffsp.navy.mil.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
* 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of [some form of] physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime
* On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States
* Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries
* Domestic violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime
* On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide
* The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%
* 72% of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner; 94% of the victims of these murder suicides are female
* Women between the ages of 18-24 are most commonly abused by an intimate partner