LFS asks residents to ‘Shine a Light on Domestic Violence’
Lassen Family Services asks the public shine a light on domestic violence and help it raise funds to support victims at the same time.
According to a statement from LFS, “Purchase a purple bulb through the link below (or use your own if you have one) and display it throughout October to show your support for domestic violence survivors. Shine a Light in your house, on your porch, in front of your business, or office and help us raise awareness.
“(The) proceeds help LFS support the women, children and men of our community that are currently experiencing domestic violence, according to the statement. It’s likely that someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and may be afraid to speak up.
“One-in-three women and one-in-four men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. The more we talk about a problem, the easier it is to solve, and the more we can help one another. #BreaktheSilence #EndDomesticViolence #ShineALight.”
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network website, October was first declared as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989. Since then, October has been a time to acknowledge domestic violence survivors and be a voice for its victims. Domestic violence is prevalent in every community, and affects all people regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. Physical violence is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior as part of a much larger, systematic pattern of dominance and control. Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and even death. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime.
Although there has been substantial progress in reducing domestic violence, an average of 20 people are physically abused by intimate partners every minute. This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually. One-in-three women and one-in-four men have been physically abused by an intimate partner, and one-in-five women and one-in-seven men have been severely physically abused by an intimate partner. Millions of Americans live in daily, silent fear within their own homes. In addition, every year millions of children are exposed to domestic violence. Domestic violence incidents affect every person within a home and can have long-lasting negative effects on children’s emotional well-being, and social and academic functioning.
