Van Beek: For Some, Love Hurts
This week we will continue our observance of Domestic Violence month by delving deeper into an issue that is so tragic and affects so many. Our community seeks to create awareness, so as to eliminate a sense of isolation for victims and deliver the help they so desperately need.
According to the National Institutes of Health, domestic abuse includes intimate partner abuse, child abuse, and elder abuse, with women and children being disproportionately affected. Physical, psychological, and sexual abuse are included.
While domestic violence has been around forever, according to a study done by NIH, there has been a substantial increase in violence since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were nine themes that emerged from the study, which analyzed over 1 million tweets related to family violence and COVID-19 from April 12 to July 16, 2020.
Help is available. Local resources include the Bright Future Foundation, Eagle Valley Behavioral Health, and Violence Free Colorado.
