As October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, victims require support and ways to receive help across the nation.
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, there are 24 people per minute on average,who are victims of some type of domestic abuse, adding to 12 million people a year. In Wisconsin, 101 lives were lost because of domestic abuse in 2022, as reported by Family Advocates.
Domestic abuse is the physical, verbal, emotional, sexual or economic turmoil that a person in any type of relationship uses on another person. “This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone,” United Nations said.
Criminal justice lecturer and retired attorney, Elizabeth Connolly, instructs Women, Gender and Justice at UW-Platteville, in which she teaches the hardships of domestic violence.
“Besides emotional connections to the abuser, many victims are financially dependent, share children with the abuser and have lost their confidence and self-worth.”
Connolly describes how to support a person coming to you in need of support. She says to “listen and validate” the victim; this is because, in most situations, the abuser makes the victim feel as though the abuse is their fault. The next step is being able to point them in the direction of resources to get them help.
At UW-Platteville, services are provided to all students to aid victims who have suffered or are suffering from domestic violence.
Paula Schoenberg is the Sexual Violence Victim Advocate on campus who assists students with their domestic violence and other abusive situations “An advocate is there to explain the process in great detail, make sure the client’s rights are not being violated, inform them of the next steps and keep them connected to necessary resources,” as described by the Sexual Violence Victim Advocate page at UW Platteville.
Students can participate in Healthy Relationship meetings that are held in 226 Royce Hall, Monday at 4 p.m., hosted by Schoenberg.
Family Advocates in Platteville are also available as a resource, as they provide help with housing, food, mental and health care, law, financial, substance abuse and LGBTQ+ support. Family Advocates additionally helps with sexual assault, human trafficking and youth services.All information is private.
There is also a helpline for victims at (800) 924-2624 and an advocate can be connected to you within 45 minutes.
