National Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Understanding the Impact and Finding Help

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, an average of 24 people are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner every minute, which is more than 12 million women and men in the United States during a single year. And the Texas Council on Family Violence reported that last year, there were over 200 Texan victims of intimate partner or stalking homicide.

Domestic violence is an urgent public health issue affecting millions of people each year. It’s important to understand the scope of this problem to foster prevention, raise awareness, and offer support to those impacted.

October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to draw attention to the prevalence of domestic violence and bring awareness of the support and resources available to victims.

If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, it’s crucial to recognize the signs and understand that help is available. Legacy Community Health is here to support you and provide confidential care.

What Is Domestic Violence and How Can You Recognize Abuse?

Domestic violence, also known as Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or domestic abuse, is a pattern of abusive behavior in a relationship that is used by one person to gain or maintain power and control over another person. This abuse can be expressed in different ways, ranging physical and sexual to emotional, financial, and digital.

The abuse can occur within any age group, from adolescents and adults to the elderly. It can also happen between heterosexual couples as well as same-sex couples, whether the individuals are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Abuse can be present whether or not sexual intimacy is involved.

It’s important to know that while some types of abuse are visible, for example physical injuries, other types of abuse can be invisible. Victims might not even realize they’re being abused if certain behaviors have been normalized in their relationship. Emotional abuse and financial control can fall into this category.

But we need to recognize that invisible abuse is still domestic violence. Some warning signs include a victim being prevented from talking with or seeing friends when they want to, having their pets or children threatened with harm if they don’t do what the abuser wants them to do, or being intimidated with knives, guns, or other weapons.

Here are some examples of different types of abuse:

• Physical abuse: Hitting, choking, pinching, shoving, or holding someone down.
• Emotional abuse: Manipulating, threatening, or verbal degrading someone, or accusing them of never doing anything right.
• Sexual abuse: Pressuring or coercing someone into having sex. Past consent does not mean consent exists for a new sexual act. Marriage or being in a committed relationship does not mean someone has given consent to sex.
• Financial abuse: Stealing someone’s money or refusing to give them money for necessary expenses so they are unable to make their own financial decisions. Destroying their belongings
• Digital abuse: Using technology to harass, control, or monitor someone.

“Domestic violence is not limited to physical harm. Emotional, sexual, and financial control can be just as damaging to someone’s health and wellbeing,” says Ashante Bree Montero, LCSW.

What To Do If You are Experiencing Abuse

Legacy Community Health staff and medical professionals are trained to offer discreet and compassionate support to victims of domestic violence. All conversations between patients and staff are confidential, so patients are encouraged to talk about their situation in order to receive the help they need.

Even if a person is not sure whether or not they are experiencing a domestic violence situation, it’s a good idea to speak with someone to talk things through.

If you or someone you know is considering leaving an abusive situation, we can help them develop a personalized safety plan to leave the relationships safely. This plan can include identifying trusted friends, safe places to go, and important documents to have ready in case of an emergency.

Signs of Domestic Abuse: What To Watch For

Recognizing the signs of domestic abuse – whether physical, emotional, or behavioral – can help protect yourself or someone else.

Physical signs of abuse can include bruises, cuts and scrapes, and unexplained injuries where someone makes excuses for injuries, for example saying they are clumsy and just tripped and fell.

Beyond external physical signs, there are also emotional and behavioral signs of abuse. These can include things like feeling chronically anxious or depressed because the person doesn’t feel safe. Others may note sudden changes in someone’s mood or behavior or that they increasingly withdraw from social events.

Similarly, someone may experience frequent headaches, or suffer chest pain or digestive problems brought on by trauma.

How Legacy Community Health Can Help Victims of Domestic Abuse

Legacy Community Health is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive space for everyone, especially those affected by domestic abuse. We understand that sharing such personal and painful experiences requires a foundation of trust, respect, and genuine compassion, and we are here to offer that.

To support our patients’ well-being and ensure their safety, we incorporate routine screening questions into yearly healthcare checkups. During these checkups, patients are asked about their emotional and physical safety at home, with questions designed to identify any signs of abuse or coercion in their relationships.

If someone answers yes to any of the questions, we find out whether or not they feel safe to go home and whether they would like to be referred to a case manager or social worker for help. We can also help people create a safety plan that’s tailored to their unique situation and needs.

If a patient comes into one of our locations and is accompanied by an abusive partner, we can provide an opportunity to speak to a healthcare provider alone during a physical exam. After an in-person visit, a follow-up telehealth appointment can be another opportunity for a patient to speak privately.

At Legacy Community Health, all patient information is confidential. We can also document physical signs and injuries in a safe manner to support patients for if and when they decide to pursue any legal action.

Even if someone is not yet ready to leave their abusive situation, Legacy Community Health is here to provide ongoing medical and preventive healthcare support.

You Are Not Alone: Get Help for Domestic Violence

At Legacy Community Health, our priority is the health, safety, and well-being of every patient. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. We offer judgment-free care and resources to help you navigate your situation confidentially.

Whether you are seeking help for yourself or a loved one, we encourage you to reach out. Our doors are always open, and we are here to support you with the care and services you need.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please visit us online or call (832) 548-5000.

Resources for Domestic Violence Victims

If you or a friend or loved one needs help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (1-800) 799-SAFE (7233). You can also contact the Texas Council on Family Violence at     (512) 794-1133 to get technical help on child support issues and other issues related to family violence.