October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month; a month to focus and be aware of the negative impacts of domestic violence both on the victim and the witnesses. This year's theme is Every1KnowsSome1, emphasizing that domestic violence is much more common than we recognize and goes beyond the realm of physical abuse.
Every year advocates wear purple on a Thursday in October, this year being October 19th, in order to show their support to the victims and take action in stopping domestic violence. This harmful action, doesn’t only affect the victim, but commonly affects the eye witnesses, which tends to be the children within the home. Being an eyewitness to this type of abuse can lead to an impact on mental health in the future.
How to become a daily advocate:
- Educating yourself
- Educating the people around you
- Being aware of your surroundings and people in your circle
- Speaking out against domestic violence
- Supporting and caring for domestic violence victims
Speaking out against domestic violence can be scary, but remember the theme for 2023, Every1KnowsSome1. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have experienced some form of intimate partner violence while 1 in 15 children are eyewitnesses to this type of abuse.
“I raise up my voice - not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard” ~ Malala Yousafzai