October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

 

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a national annual observance, evolved from the "Day of Unity" held in October 1981 and conceived by the  National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. Today, we know domestic violence affects individuals of all ages, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and religions, and happens regardless of sexual orientation. This violence occurs in both dating relationships and marriages, and occurs on and off college and university campuses.

 

The NCADV is one of the leading grassroots organizations working on behalf of victims and survivors. They work to affect public policy, increasing understanding of the impact of domestic violence, and providing programs and education that drive that change. This year, NCADV's call to action for DVAM is #SurvivorSpeaks, a movement inspired by #MeToo and designed to help debunk common myths about domestic violence as well as encourage the criminal and legal systems to make things easier for victims and survivors. NCADV has developed a toolkit (PDF) to help people take action using online resources, sample social media posts, shareable graphics, and more.

 

The National Network to End Domestic Violence, a social change organization dedicated to creating a social, political, and economic environment in which violence against women no longer exists, is holding a National Week of Action, October 14-20. Some daily events include #SelflessSunday, Twitter Chat Tuesday on October 16, #WokeWednesday, and #TechSafety Saturday. Full descriptions of the daily events are available now.

 

Colleges and universities across the country are launching DVAM week and month-long events. These include The Clothesline Project, speakers and advocates on campus, financial empowerment workshops, Wear Purple Day, Take Back the Night, and more at institutions of higher education such as the NYC Fashion Institute of Technology, Arizona State University, Miami University, and the University of Illinois.

 

If your organization or campus is interested in launching a campaign to support DVAM, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) has campaign ideas, including #1Thing, available. The #1Thing unified message is meant to convey that change can start with #1Thing. One person's actions may seem insignificant, but together a communities' collective "#1Things" can lead to real social transformation. You can also create and register your own event or search for an event in your area on the NRCDV website.

 

For additional information on domestic violence prevention, please read our 2017 Weekly Snapshot article.

Attitudes that view symptoms of mental health issues as threatening and uncomfortable frequently foster stigma and discrimination towards people affected by these issues. People brave enough to admit they have a mental health problem often face forms of exclusion, discrimination, and bullying. Mental health stigma can be divided into two types: social stigma that is characterized by prejudicial attitudes and discriminating behavior directed towards individuals with mental health problems as a result of the label they have been given, and perceived stigma or self-stigma that is the internalizing by the mental health sufferer of their perceptions of discrimination. Perceived stigma can significantly affect feelings of shame and lead to poorer treatment outcomes. This Mental Illness Awareness Week, join the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in educating the public, fighting stigma, and providing support.

In 2018, NAMI will promote the theme of " CureStigma"throughout all awareness events, including Mental Illness Awareness Week, which takes place from October 7-13 this year. You can help spread the word on your campus and in your community with the help of NAMI's resource toolkit and awareness resources and through other awareness, support, and advocacy activities including World Mental Health Day and National Depression Screening Day. To raise mental health awareness at their 14 colleges and universities, the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) released school-specific public services announcements for its #SomeoneToListen campaign. "If just one person having a bad day is impacted by one of these videos and motivated to seek out someone on campus to listen, then we have succeeded in our mission," said GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich.

It's important for campus communities to be informed about mental health issues, support services, and resources as many students will experience their first mental health symptoms while at school. Depression often surfaces for the first time during late adolescence and early adulthood; Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can also show up for the first time in the late teens and early 20s; and a survey by the American College Health Association found that 57 percent of college women and 40 percent of college men experienced "overwhelming anxiety" in the year prior to the survey. An untreated mental illness can eventually lead to drug and alcohol use as an effort to cope. College can potentially exacerbate this correlation given the occurrences of binge drinking and recreational drug use that takes place. The clinical term that describes this phenomenon is dual diagnosis - when another mental disorder co-occurs with addiction. Early intervention and dual diagnosis treatment options for college students can better the chances of recovery.

Visit NAMI's website to learn more about warning signs, mental health conditions, treatment, and research, and to access mental health numbers and statistics, infographics and fact sheets, and public policy.

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