Special to Tiger Media Network
As fall arrives, it brings with it an important reminder to take action in ending domestic violence. October serves as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Domestic violence affects people economically, socially, and across generations, causing emotional pain and trauma that is hard to measure. The physical effects, when they do occur,are easier to quantify. According to the CDC, the total lifetime economic cost—including lost work productivity, criminal justice expenses, medical care, and more—is estimated to be $3.6 trillion.
Deeply rooted in control and power dynamics, domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race, gender identity, religion, or socioeconomic status. It encompasses a variety of behaviors, with the primary behaviors being:
• Psychological or Emotional aggression: The use of verbal and non-verbal communication to intentionally harm someone’s mental or emotional health or to exercise control over them.
• Sexual violence: Forcing or attempting to force someone into a sexual act, unwanted sexual touching, or engaging in non-physical sexual activities (such as sexting) without consent.
• Stalking: A consistent pattern of unwanted attention or contact that causes fear or raises concerns for one’s own safety or the safety of loved ones.
• Physical violence: Inflicting or attempting to inflict harm through physical force.
According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey Report (2022), almost 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men in the United States reported sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking victimization by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime.
This year and moving forward, it’s important that we, as a society, come together to support survivors, recognize different cultural ways to heal from violence, and focus on the needs of those most marginalized in our efforts to end domestic violence. Jana’s Campaign encourages you to show your support for survivors of domestic violence by wearing purple on the third Thursday of October (October 17, 2024).
To promote awareness of domestic violence, Jana’s Campaign has several impactful events and initiatives planned throughout October. First, join Larissa Whitney, Education & Prevention Specialist at Jana’s Campaign, for a Facebook Live event on Wednesday, October 9th at noon CST, featuring Dorthy Stucky Halley, LMSW, co-director of the Family Peace Program in Topeka, KS. Together, they will discuss key issues related to domestic violence prevention and education. In addition, Jana’s Campaign will host its annual fundraising event, Empty Place at the Table, on October 19th in Hays, KS. This event celebrates a decade and a half of impact across Kansas and beyond, and we invite everyone to join us in marking this milestone. Throughout the month, we also encourage you to educate yourself and your community about the impacts of domestic violence. Jana’s Campaign will be sharing important statistics and facts on our social media platforms. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn to help raise awareness that domestic violence is not just a personal issue but a societal issue.
By taking action today, we can prevent domestic violence, support those affected, and transform future Octobers into not just a time for awareness, but for progress toward a violence-free world.
Jana’s Campaign is a Hays-based national education and violence prevention organization with the single mission of reducing gender and relationship violence. In honor of the late Jana Mackey, a 25-year old law student at the University of Kansas when she was killed by an ex-boyfriend in 2008, and other victims and survivors of gender and relationship violence, Jana’s Campaign delivers educational programs that prevent domestic and dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking.