Safe At Home?

Written by Stella Hull-Lampkin, BASI Pilates Operations Manager, BASI Pilates Faculty, and PMA Board Member.

October is known as Breast Cancer Awareness month. Did you know that it is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month?

Let’s view this by the numbers:

• On average nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. That equates to 10 million men and women in one year.
• On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to the domestic violence hotlines nationwide.
• Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.
• Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries.

*The above statistics provided by ncadv.org/Statisitcs

With the onset of COVID-19 and people being asked to “shelter in place,” this meant that millions of men, women and children were locked at home with their abusers. Social Distancing also contributed to hiding the signs of abuse. It is difficult to see the physical marks on video chats as in face to face. Behavioral changes are also difficult to pick up.

If you are in immediate need of assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to thehotline.org or call 800-779- SAFE (7233) or text “loveis” 22522.

How to Spot Signs of Abuse

• They bully, threaten or control their partner.
• They control the money and closely monitor bank accounts.
• They control who their partner can talk to or visit with.
• They are verbally, physically or sexually abusive.

Warning Signs Someone is Being Abused

• They are giving excuses for lesions or bruises.
• They undergo behavior changes, like being quiet after being talkative or outgoing.
• They are constantly checking their phone or reporting to their partner.
• They start missing school, work, or social gatherings for no reason.
• They are wearing inappropriate clothing, like a sweatshirt when it is hot for example.

As we move into the holiday season, please continue to reach out to family and friends.  “Social distancing” does not mean we should distance our relations. A phone call or text message can save a life.

Additional resources:

• TalkSpace
• Uber and Lyft
• NoMore.org
• Thehotline.org