Unraveling the Knot: Exploring the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Mental Health

Content Warning: This post contains discussions of domestic violence.

The correlation between mental health and domestic violence is multifaceted and often cyclical. Individuals who experience domestic violence, whether physical, emotional, or psychological, often suffer from significant mental health issues due to the trauma they endure. It’s crucial to recognize that addressing both mental health and domestic violence is essential for breaking the cycle of abuse and promoting healing and recovery for survivors.

Domestic violence is associated with a range of physical and mental health effects. Being a victim of domestic violence is linked to an increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and suicide. Exposure to traumatic events can lead to stress, fear, and isolation, which may lead to depression and suicidal thoughts or behavior.

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), 20% of survivors develop mental health conditions. These include:

  • Major depressive disorder
  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Substance use disorders

The APA also states that survivors of domestic violence may blame themselves for the abuse they received. They can become self-critical, self-destructive, and suicidal. Chronic abuse can create trauma responses that interfere with future relationships. Survivors may struggle with emotional regulation, dissociation, and numbing, and have trouble reading social cues.

Researchers have found that mental health outcomes of domestic violence can become a vicious cycle. Survivors can believe they are powerless to control violent behavior or to develop resources to change their situation. This can potentially set up a long-term pattern of violent partnerships.

Violence also affects the children of those involved. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), children of people experiencing abuse are more likely to be abused. They also tend to have poorer school performance than their peers and higher rates of illness, including depression and anxiety. Witnessing domestic abuse is considered an adverse childhood experience (ACE). Such toxic stress in early life is linked to several negative health outcomes in adulthood, ranging from depression and substance use disorder to diabetes and heart disease.

Treating the Mental Health Effects of Domestic Violence

Mental health professionals who treat survivors of violence often use a trauma-informed approach. When counseling patients, they consider the distress the patient experienced and how it shapes the person’s beliefs and behavior. This approach focuses on creating a sense of safety and empowerment for patients. In treatment, patients can strengthen communication, learn stress management, and reduce feelings of isolation. Such skills may protect against future incidences of domestic violence.

In addition to individual counseling, group therapy can be helpful for survivors. In the context of a group, they can learn from others’ experiences and can shed feelings of isolation and secrecy.

At Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter, we are committed to providing support to survivors, including mental health services. Every client can receive free individual therapeutic services so that they can begin to understand, resolve, and heal from the trauma they have experienced specifically domestic violence-related trauma. We also offer a weekly support group where clients learn skills to help them cope with past experiences while building healthy relationships and a community with other clients. Support group also allows survivors to have a confidential setting to connect with other survivors who have experienced domestic violence.

For more information about these programs, please email us at info@nwaws.org.

Content Warning: This post and the articles discussed/linked contain discussions of domestic violence.

One in four American women will experience violence from a domestic partner in their lifetime, often resulting in significant trauma to the head and neck known as a traumatic brain injury. It is estimated that millions of women experience traumatic brain injuries (TBI) due to domestic violence (DV) every year and over 75% of domestic violence survivors suffer single or repeated traumatic brain injuries, most of which go unreported.

For many survivors of domestic violence, the impact of TBI on thinking and memory lasts long after the abuse ends. Even mild cases of traumatic brain injury, like concussion, can impart significant and long-lasting issues, and a single incident in which TBI occurs can result in long-term cognitive damage. Repeated physical abuse can accelerate the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s and may even result in chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a fatal form of progressive brain degeneration that can only be diagnosed after death.

Despite these alarming statistics, the relationship between TBI and domestic violence remains largely unknown and critically under-researched. The connection between the two may be obvious in retrospect, but until these injuries are consistently screened for in domestic violence cases and also more regularly discussed, they cannot be addressed as they need to be. Talking about domestic violence is difficult, and many women may struggle to share their stories due to stigma, the threat of partner retaliation, and/or the lack of accessible medical care.

Raising awareness of the signs of domestic abuse can help more women come forward and receive the care and support they need – but the right systems must be in place for that to happen. Here at Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter, we are committed to providing that care and support and ensuring those systems are readily available for those who need them. In addition to funding research to better understand the connections between DV-TBI and CTE, people can support survivors by educating themselves about the signs of domestic violence and traumatic brain injury, how the two are connected, and championing domestic violence prevention organizations like ours.

For more information and resources about this subject please visit these web pages:

Written by John McGee volunteer-appreciation-month April is National Volunteer Awareness Month. bns gold Frequently we forget to recognize our volunteers, and all too frequently we forget to recognize those volunteers who helped build an organization. Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter, originally incorporated as the Benton County Women’s Shelter in August 1986, would not still be in existence without the help of volunteers. ASICS PAS CHER FR Very early in our history, a group of individuals created the Benton County Women’s Shelter Auxiliary. The purpose of the Auxiliary was “to provide an opportunity for caring persons to assist the Benton County Women’s Shelter Project in their very important work with battered women and their children.” As reflected in a brochure produced by the Soroptimist International of Northwest Arkansas dated September 28, 1988, the purpose of the project was “to actually establish a shelter…” That brochure contains a sample of a card advising individuals on a number to call, what to take if leaving an abusive relationship, and advice on why one might call a domestic violence hotline. goedkoop nike air max 2017 By November of 1988, the auxiliary was organized with elected leaders, a dues structure, a purpose of raising resources for a shelter, and a campaign to educate the community on the issues of domestic violence. These volunteers organized seminars, brought in speakers, produced informational press releases, and started raising funds to fulfill their purpose. In a January 1989 appeal for members, the auxiliary recorded its purpose as “formed to assist the Project in fund raising and volunteer services.”

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Invitation to the First Membership Tea of the Rogers Unit of the Benton County Women’s Shelter Auxiliary

For the next eight years the auxiliary grew, developed multiple units, created a thrift store, and became a power within the organization because of its ability generate revenue. At one point the funds generated by the auxiliary represented close to 40% of all the operating funds accessible by the organization. nike air max pas cher Many of the contributions these founding volunteers provided still shape how we operate. While the thrift store generates only about 20% of our current overall operating revenue, the shelter would not be in existence today without the income-generating power of the thrift store. Many individuals, particularly Jamie Percell, were crucial in creating and establishing the foundation of the thrift store. Originally known as the Friendship House Thrift Store, the NWA Women’s Shelter Thrift Store (now located at 1622 W. 8th Street in Rogers) is still dependent upon the help and assistance of dedicated volunteers. To each and every individual who has ever volunteered at the shelter, in the thrift store (regardless of the name it carried), with a fundraising activity that benefited the Benton County Women’s Shelter/Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter, or who served on our volunteer Board of Directors, thank you. Our professional staff know we accomplish what we do because you make it possible. Early on, nearly everything we did was reliant on the kindness, talent, and time of volunteers. As we grew, more and more work shifted to the staff. Today, as a relatively new individual in the history of this shelter, I recognize that everything I do or that my wonderful and talented staff does is an effort to build on the contributions of volunteers—volunteers who decided the region needed a shelter, the community needed to be educated on the issues, and the resources needed to be identified to make it happen have been, and continue to be, essential to our work. I know this might be too late for some, but on behalf of everyone connected with the NWA Women’s Shelter today, thank you, thank you, thank you for your labor of love, for your dedication, and for your support. For those who are still able, you are more than welcome to join us again however you might be able to participate. Chaussures ASICS Gel Glorify pour Femme The mission of the auxiliary is still as relevant and important to us today in our work to empower families to live free of violence as it was in 1988.

 

 

lock-door-safetyDiana’s Story*

Diana approached us after her husband was arrested. She had been married for several years and the abuse had been escalating from passive aggressive behavior to physical violence and threats of homicide. During this time she had lost her business and many friends due to the control and manipulation her abuser subjected upon her. Diana had to open a secret safety deposit box so she could keep important documents and family photos secure. She feared the worst when he was released from jail, and wanted to make sure that she would be safe.

Our advocates safety planned with Diana and also assisted her with filing an Order of Protection. She was able to secure her own housing without staying in shelter, but she still felt afraid and constantly worried that her abuser would find her and kill her like he always said. She wanted to purchase some home security devices, but after pricing the items she needed and realizing she could not afford them, Diana decided she would make some homemade booby traps and use those instead. Although she now had a way to be notified of an intruder, Diana still failed to feel safe at home and had a lot of trouble sleeping at night.

During this time Diana continued to come to our support groups and meet with our Support Services Advocate. She found it helpful to process what she had experienced with other survivors and began to feel like her life was coming back together. One day after support group, her advocate approached her about an opportunity. NWAWS had just received a donation of home security devices (window alarms, exterior motion lights, and home security signage) that clients could use to make their homes more secure and Diana was able to select several items that would work for her house.

Like Diana, many of our clients need support outside of our shelter. Last year, we were able to help 260 individuals on an outreach basis through our court advocacy program, support group, one-on-one meetings, job resources, or special events. Rebuilding one’s life after leaving an abusive partner or family member does not require a one-size fits all approach. Instead it requires a community of support and the ability to have needs—such as home security—met.joining-hands-group-support

Through our support group and outreach programs, victims of domestic abuse are able to transition to becoming survivors by learning to find their own self and experiencing the freedom to become the person they have never been able to be. For the first time in a long time (or in some cases, ever), our clients begin to feel comfort and hope.

Our Support Services Advocate describes the transformation as simply “watching them grow”. She uses the illustration of a puzzle box: full with a thousand pieces, but so shaken and scattered that you do not know where to even begin putting it back together. Over time and with the support and guidance of others, these individuals begin to assemble their puzzle. By doing so, they begin rebuilding their lives.

A few weeks ago, Diana spoke to her advocate and shared that she can finally call her house, “home”. She was able to go and bring home her safety deposit box because today she feels safe. She feels complete.

Because of your support, we are able to help individuals like Diana create new lives without violence and fear. Peace of mind is something many of us take for granted but domestic violence survivors truly appreciate. Please consider joining our village and supporting us financially. It’s easy to do! Click here to donate online or here to learn more about donation options. Want to speak to someone directly? Please call our Development Director, Merritt Royal, at 479-246-0353 X 140.

Do you think you might be in need of our outreach services? Please call us 24/7 to speak with an advocate: 479-246-9999 or 1-800-775-9011.

*Name changed to protect privacy

 

 

(Above: Kay Harvey & Regina Gower look on as Julie Robins of White Wing Loft releases a dove at the Silent Witness Closing Ceremony)

Since 2013, we have recognized Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) in a special way by holding the Silent Witness Project. Our campaign is a local display of the movement created by the Silent Witness National Initiative which began as a way to bring awareness to communities about the toll domestic abuse plays in families’ lives.

Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter uses this project to speak out against the recent domestic homicides that occurred in the state of Arkansas for the previous year. We do this by using life-sized red silhouettes to represent each victim (whether man, woman, or child) as we march and speak out on their behalf. We also place these silhouettes along with the story of the person that they represent in area businesses during the month of October so that others will learn more about the victim who is no longer with us.

Last fall, we honored the 11 lives that our state lost in 2014 due to domestic violence. Ten were women and one was the unborn child of one of the victims.

We marched with silhouettes representing them.

We read their stories and learned about the struggles they and other victims faced.

And we released doves for them as a symbolic way to release them from this earth.

Perhaps the most terrible result of domestic homicides is that while these 11 individuals do not get the opportunity to live their lives, in most cases their abusers do. We combat this cruel reality by recognizing and honoring the victims who are no longer able to share their stories with us. By speaking up for them and allowing their silhouettes to silently speak on their behalf, they are not forgotten and we hope their deaths are not in vain.

As advocates for our clients as well as all victims and survivors, we want to make sure their stories are heard and their struggles are shared. Domestic abuse is a community problem and it will take all of us working together to correct it.

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Booth at the Silent Witness Opening Ceremony

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Marchers at the March to End Violence in Downtown Rogers

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Marchers at the March to End Violence

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Detective Glynn Bertrand of Bentonville Police Department speaks about how domestic abuse affects us

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John McGee and Leslie Folsom hold the March Banner

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Kay Harvey shares her story and the story of her daughter who was killed two years ago.

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Booth at the Silent Witness Opening Ceremony

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Dr. Todd Kitchens shares NWACC’s role in reducing domestic violence

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John McGee, Executive Director of NWAWS, explains how domestic violence effects NWA

Closing Ceremony (9)

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Regina Gower shares her sister’s story

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Kay Harvey and Regina Gower look on as Julie Robins releases a dove

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Kay Harvey and Regina Gower look on as Julie Robins releases a dove

Special thanks to the committee members and partners who helped make this year a success! We appreciate you!

For more photos of our 2015 Silent Witness events, check out our Facebook page. To learn more about Silent Witness, click here. Interested in getting involved? Send Amber an email at alacewell@nwaws.org.

 

Our crisis line rings every day. Even on the holidays.

Last year, our advocates and volunteers took a total of 1800 crisis calls. When compared to all the calls we answered, over 80% of our phone calls each day were from victims of violence or their families who are seeking our services. Our commitment to Northwest Arkansas is to always be available to take those calls, 24/7/365.

Domestic abuse does not take a break for holidays or weather. It happens in our community on a daily basis whether we admit it or not. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey[1]  found that more than 1 in 16 women and 1 in 20 men experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in the year prior to their survey.

If we compare those numbers with our NWA population of an estimated 500,000 people, we would expect that over 25,000 individuals were abused by intimate partners last year alone.

Thankfully the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter has a service that can help. Anyone can contact our crisis line to receive support, make plans for safety, or simply share their story. We welcome these calls because it means abused individuals are reaching out for the help they need and our hope is that we can assist each person as they move toward a violence free life.

More information about the hotline calls we took in 2015:

  • 106 callers were referred to us by law enforcement.
  • 111 people were referred by a media source.
  • At least 5 people found our information in the phonebook–a service we are required to provide under state law.
  • 268 people called on behalf of a friend or family member who was a victim of domestic abuse.
  • On average, a hotline caller had 2 dependents.
  • 30 people were referred by a local hospital or medical facility.
  • 50% of people had never contacted us before.

hotline-call-crisis-lineAre you in need of our services? Please contact us 24/7 at 479-246-9999 or toll-free at 1-800-775-9011.

Interested in volunteering and helping us answer these important calls? Email our Volunteer Coordinator, Sheri, at shammond@nwaws.org.

[1] Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010 Summary Report. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_report2010-a.pdf

 

When I was a child there was a murder-suicide in my neighborhood. Never once was it suggested that it might have been a result of domestic abuse. The topic was not even raised.

Today, when such an event occurs domestic violence is considered as a possible cause. During the month of October, through its Silent Witness initiative, the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter and the community remembered the lives of 10 women and 1 unborn baby who were murdered in Arkansas in 2014 as a result of domestic violence. Today, we talk about domestic abuse much more than in the past, but all too many individuals still fail to grasp the complexity of this social problem and what needs to be done to confront it.

Clearly we need to create the public safety net that prevents domestic violence deaths, but we need to do more. We need to commit public safety monies to the cause. As a community, we need to become informed, to act, and for us collectively to start ending it, through all the resources at our command.

I have been in the abuse prevention space for over 15 years, working with both children and adults. What I have come to believe is that when adults abuse each other, particularly through domestic abuse, invariably children witness it and are victims of abuse themselves. If we address domestic abuse, we can help model behavior for children that may prevent the next generation from being abusive or submissive to abuse.

“Domestic violence” means many different things to the residents of northwest Arkansas. air max For the victim it means personal, financial, and emotional turmoil or worse. Consider the following:

6% of adult women and 28.5% adult men will experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.

Application to NWA: Using 2010 census numbers, this means roughly 6,400 women and 4,900 men in Bentonville will be victims of domestic assault or violence at some point in their lives.

Yet another way to look at these numbers is regionally. Approximately 60,000 men and 76,000 women in Washington and Benton Counties will be victims of domestic violence during their lifetimes.

Domestic violence is the most common cause of injury for women ages 18-44.Domestic violence leads to increased incidences of chronic disease. Abused women are 70% more likely to have heart disease, 80% more likely to experience a stroke, and 60% more likely to develop asthma.Nearly 1 out of 4 women who are employed report that domestic violence has affected their work performance at some point in their lives.Each year, 8 million days of paid work is lost in the U.S. because of domestic violence. This is equivalent to 36,000 jobs.

Application to NWA: If all the lost jobs occurred in Bentonville at the same time, roughly 2 out of every 3 individuals would lose their jobs.

Domestic violence costs $8.3 billion in expenses annually to U.S. buy bns gold employers, through a combination of higher medical costs ($5.8 billion) and lost productivity ($2.5 billion).

If an individual is experiencing domestic violence, what services are available to help? The Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter offers:

Safe shelter for those abused and their childrenReferral servicesEducation on legal rights and support in pursuing those rightsSupport groups and individual sessionsCommunity outreach and educationChildren support group and other age-appropriate servicesOn-going support for non-resident clients

This does not represent a complete list of services. Each domestic shelter may provide a different combination or configuration of these services.

If you are need of services or know someone who does, reach out to your nearest shelter and talk to them. asics femme pas cher They all have hotlines you can call for help or to answer your questions about domestic violence. The hotline number for the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter is 479-246-9999. Someone is available 24-7, 365 days per year.

In comparing today with the era of my childhood, it is obvious domestic abuse and domestic violence still negatively impact our communities, workforces, and families. One difference is that we recognize and categorize violent crimes more often as domestic violence. We talk more openly about domestic abuse and domestic violence, and their dynamics. nike air max 1 homme But, today, we need to do more than talk. We need members of the community to be committed to actively educating themselves about the problem, to allocate resources (including public funds) necessary to insure services are available to the victims and their children, and to promote healthy relationships among our school-age children.

We need to break the silence. Your proactive action as a community member, as a citizen, to be the voice for victims is needed today. To find out how you can get involved to be the voice locally, learn more at www.nwaws.org, or e-mail us at info@nwaws.org.