SPOKANE, Wash. — October is domestic violence awareness month, which some local organizations also refer to as, domestic violence action month.
YWCA Spokane is a local organization that specializes in intimate-partner domestic violence (DV). Their goal is to raise awareness and inspire the public to take action against DV.
According to YWCA Spokane, one in three women and one in ten men have experienced DV in Spokane County.
Last year, YWCA Spokane helped over 14,000 people with over 20,000 incidents of DV. Of those victims, nearly 1,000 of them were women and their children who escaped abusive relationships.
Everyone’s DV situation is unique; there is no one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why they prioritize empowering survivors to take control of their situation, because no one knows what they are going through better than they do.
The first step is recognizing that you are a victim of DV. Sometimes you are too close to a situation to see it for yourself, and it takes the perspective of others. That is okay.
One sign to look for is isolation. The more isolation you have with your partner, the more power they might have over your decision making.
Gaslighting can be another form of domestic violence. Your partner can use it to make you question what you know, getting you to rely more on them to make decisions and understand reality.
These are just a few of many possible examples of DV. There are others that include physical and non-physical attacks.
You can find out more about what DV in Washington by clicking on the link here.
Last July the state of Washington changed their definition of DV by adding the term “coercive control”, which could mean using leverage to force your partner to do something (threatening deportation, threatening to take custody of children, etc.).
Once you identify that you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, YWCA Spokane wants to get you the information you need to make the best decision for you moving forward. They want to give you the power back.
There is a 24-hour DV confidential resource line that you can call at (509) 326-2255.
This resource can give you options that include financial resources, finding you new housing, legal services or connecting you with more-specific resources for your situation.
YWCA Spokane also has walk-in counseling available on a first-come-first-serve basis every Monday for DV survivors.
No matter what your situation is, there is still hope. Don’t forget that.
