On average, about 20 people in the US are subjected to physical abuse by an intimate partner each minute.
To address this issue, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) was established in 1996 with its main office in Austin, Texas; ever since, they have taken the initiative of making the world a better place by countering domestic violence.
It’s important to note that they are the only 24/7 national hotline for mediating complaints and concerns from people who are victims of domestic abuse.
In 2007, NDVH launched Loveisrespect; an initiative to cater to people who are facing mental, physical or financial abuse – as part of this, they support victims who wish to leave their toxic relationships behind.
More People Are Standing Up and Filing Complaints
Continuous efforts from the NDVH, increased media coverage and society’s focus on and acknowledgement of the prevalence of domestic violence has certainly helped spread awareness of this issue.
As such, more people than ever are coming forward to report abuse and seek support – in fact, the NDVH Hotline received the highest ever ‘contacts’ in 2018 – people who reach out to the hotline to file a complaint, request assistance or ask for guidance.
Specifically, they recorded a staggering 36% increase in contacts compared to the previous year as per their annual Impact Report.
There was a 147% increase in people reaching out via online chat and there was a 48% increase in website visits on loveisrespect.org and thehotline.org.
Domestic Violence Is Not Just Physical Abuse
A common misconception is that domestic violence refers to physical abuse alone – this is simply not true.
Take, for instance, statistics from the Impact Report:
- 11% of people reported that they have sexually abusive partners
- 24% of reports came from people whose partners were either embezzling money or restricting their access to funds
- 15% of people reported that they faced digital abuse (stalking by tracking their phone, continuous text messages, etc.)
- 88% of people reported verbal and emotional abuse
- 60% of individuals were physically abused at some point in their relationship
Despite such a high incidence of domestic abuse, 2018’s report shows an improvement; people have increasingly started to take a stand against violence and abuse, and are actively seeking ways to make better life choices.
If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, it’s advisable that you reach out to the NDVH Hotline for help and support. Locally, you may also contact Mental Health America of Boone County at (765) 482-3020 x100 for help and resources.
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