NORWICH – Catholic Charities of Chenango County is building awareness in the community about domestic violence and the affect it has on individuals and families in and beyond the local community.
On Thursday, Catholic Charities employees donned purple, the color synonymous with domestic violence nationwide. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a month centered around raising awareness of relationship violence. Hopes were to draw more attention to the issue while showing that there is support for victims in need.
“Statistics show that about one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime,” said April Conant, an employee of Catholic Charities of Chenango County. “We wore purple just to raise that awareness.”
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), one in five women have been severely physically abused. An average of 20 people in the United States are physically abused by intimate partners every minute. This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually.
Most commonly, victims are women ages 18-24, but the issue isn’t limited to just women, said Conant. The NCADV cites approximately one in four men have been physically abused by the an intimate partner, one in seven of whom have been severely physically abused.
Domestic violence also goes beyond the parameters of physical abuse to include sexual violence, threats, and emotional or psychological abuse, Conant noted. The frequency and severity of domestic violence varies dramatically.
Then there are the long-term affects. A study sponsored by the World Health Organization shows physical, mental, and sexual and reproductive health effects have been linked with intimate partner violence including adolescent pregnancy, unintended pregnancy in general, miscarriage, stillbirth, intrauterine hemorrhage, nutritional deficiency, abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal problems, neurological disorders, chronic pain, disability, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as noncommunicable diseases like hypertension, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Victims of domestic violence are also at higher risk for developing addictions to alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
To help victims of domestic violence, Catholic Charities of Chenango County offers the Victims Services Program, where advocates assist victims with crisis counseling, safety planning, accompaniment to other local providers, social service departments and court systems, information and referral services, and support group counseling.
Catholic Charities will also refer someone to a safe shelter outside the county if necessary.
“We understand that people may need advocacy to navigate the legal and medical system. Not everybody knows how to fill out paperwork or how court works, so we help them through that process. We also provide the moral support as well,” said Conant.
To speak with a Catholic Charities Domestic Violence Advocate, call 607-334-8244. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours at Catholic Charities’ location at 3 O’Hara Drive in Norwich. A 24-hour hotline is also available at 315-366-5000.