If you dismiss domestic violence as simply a “private matter,” think again.

Domestic violence touches all of our lives in some manner.

During the last 40 years, there has been a movement to end domestic violence and to help victims of this crime.

Part of this effort focuses on raising public awareness about domestic violence.

In the recent months, the community awareness has been raised to a new level because of the numerous emerging incidents in the sports arena, especially the National Football League.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the events scheduled for our area is an opportunity to open not only your mind, but also your heart to the tragedy of domestic violence.

Are you aware that:

In the United States, domestic violence is the single largest injury to women.

In Adams County in 2013, the local police department had 294 complaints of domestic violence/simple assault with 80 arrests, and the sheriff’s office had 100 complaints of domestic violence/simple assault with 40 arrests.

One in four women will be victims of domestic violence in their lifetime and one in five women will be assaulted while in college each year.

Domestic violence affects many people. Most obviously, victims of domestic violence suffer emotionally and physically. Many victims die because of domestic violence.

Children of victims often witness the abuse. This exposure to domestic violence is harmful and detrimental to the children’s psychological health.

Friends and relatives of domestic violence suffer emotionally with victims.

They can be harmed trying to help the victim, as well as injured and killed.

Anyone trying to help a victim of abuse should contact the police or a domestic violence program for help.

Those not in the direct path of domestic violence may fell unaffected by domestic violence.

However, domestic violence contributes to violence in our communities and neighborhoods because violence is often learned in the home.

The financial cost of domestic violence is now estimated that 8 million days for employed women are missed due to their abuse and the annual cost of medical costs and missed days is $8.3 billion.

Across the nation, October is the month when domestic violence will be highlighted for what it is — an epidemic that consumes precious lives and resources.

Please help in this effort by attending the event that will be presented by The Guardian Shelter for Battered Families, a Catholic Charities, Inc. program.

The community awareness event will be hosted from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in the multi-purpose room at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Refreshments will be served.

The event is sponsored by Home Bank in Natchez.

As a community, you will have an opportunity to hear from local leaders the extent of the problem in our area as well as services for the victims of domestic violence.

The purpose of Domestic Violence Awareness Month is to mourn those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrate those who have survived and honor those who work to end domestic violence.

For more information on this event or information regarding domestic violence, please contact me at 601-442-0142.

 

Donna Miller is the director of The Guardian Shelter.