October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month

Yup, that's right. This is the last year that it will be in October though, in 2010 it will be moving to May. Also, the first week in feburary every year is National Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Week, so parents, aunts/uncles, friends, talk to the teens you know because they are getting more and more effected every day. So if you know anyone, or think you might know someone in an abusive relationship, don't just sit there. Do something about it. There are many resouces out there for you and for them. You can start by calling 1 of these two phone numbers:
For anyone ages 21+ The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE(7233)
For anyone younger than 21 The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474, the teen helpline also has a chat function that is completely safe and is available at www.loveisrespect.org

But how do you know if you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship?
-If your boyfriend/girlfriend...
...Look at you or act in ways that scare you?
...Act jealous or possessive?
...Put you down or criticize you?
...Try to control where you go, what you wear or what you do?
...Text or IM you excessively?
...Blame you for the hurtful things they say and do?
...Threaten to kill or hurt you or themselves if you leave them?
...Try to stop you from seeing or talking to friends and family?
...Try to force you to have sex before you’re ready?
...Do they hit, slap, push or kick you?

These are all reasons to call whichever number is necessairy and at least talk to someone. Nothing will be forced of you, no one will judge you, and anyone you talk to can provide you with local resources in your area. If you're not ready to get out of your situation, that's okay, there is at least someone to listen to you, if you call.

To loved ones, if you've tried talking to your friend or family member and it doesn't seem to be getting through, keep talking or at least communication open to them because they aren't ready to admit to themselves that they are in that situation or it is way to dangerous for them to leave. The WORST thing you could do is to cut them out, because when they are ready to get out of the bad situationt hey are in, they won't have any where to go. Stay intouch with them, that's the best thing you could do for them. So let them know you're there and aren't going to abandon them, and also keep spreading the awareness.

Stay informed, please, and keep your eyes open.

STATS:

For Adults:
Allstate Foundation National Poll on Domestic Violence 2004
3 out of 4 (74%) respondents personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence.
83% percent of respondents strongly agreed that domestic violence affects people in all racial, ethnic, religious, educational, social and economic backgrounds.
2 out of 3 (66%) strongly agreed that domestic violence is a serious, widespread social problem in America.
While 4 out of 10 (43%) ranked fear that the abuser will find the victim as the number one reason a victim would not leave his/her abuser, over a quarter (28%) thought that finding access to money/income to support the victim and/or children was the most important problem.

The Harris Poll 2006
Approximately 8 in 10 (79%) respondents recall “seeing or hearing something” about domestic violence in the past year. Furthermore, 53 percent say that they have heard of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. This percentage increases substantially among those people who admit that they have been victims of domestic violence (71%).
A large majority (85%) agrees that “when a person forces his/her partner to have sex, it is an act of domestic violence.”
An 85% majority also agrees that “a man or woman who abuses his/her partner is more likely to also abuse children.”
Approximately 33 million1 or 15% of all U.S. adults, admit that they were a victim of domestic violence. Furthermore, 6 in 10 adults claim that they know someone personally who has experienced domestic violence.
Among all adults, 39% say that they have experienced at least one of the following, with 54% saying that they haven’t experienced any:
Called bad names (31%)
Pushing, slapping, choking or hitting (21%)
Public humiliation (19%)
Keeping away from friends or family (13%)
Threatening your family (10%)
Forcing you to have sexual intercourse without consent (9%)


For Teens:
In March 2006, Liz Claiborne Inc. commissioned Teenage Research Unlimited (TRU) to conduct a survey to delve deeper into the issue of teen dating abuse, gauging the degree to which teens have been involved in abusive/controlling relationships and to understand youth perceptions regarding what is and is not acceptable behavior in a relationship.
The findings were astounding. The results show that alarming numbers of teens experience and accept abusive behavior in dating relationships. Many teens also feel physically and sexually threatened.
1 in 5 teens who have been in a serious relationship report being hit, slapped or pushed by a partner.
1 in 3 girls who have been in a serious relationship say they’ve been concerned about being physically hurt by their partner.
1 in 4 teens who have been in a serious relationship say their boyfriend or girlfriend has tried to prevent them from spending time with friends or family; the same number have been pressured to only spend time with their partner.
1 in 3 girls between the ages of 16 and 18 say sex is expected for people their age if they’re in a relationship; half of teen girls who have experienced sexual pressure report they are afraid the relationship would break up if they did not give in.
Nearly 1 in 4 girls who have been in a relationship (23%) reported going further sexually than they wanted as a result of pressure.