By Mashum Mollah
Any form of domestic violence is unacceptable on any level but the unpalatable truth is that there are many people who have suffered or continue to suffer this debilitating attack on their physical and mental wellbeing on a regular basis.
As any domestic violence attorney will probably tell you, there is a way to find an end to the suffering and not only get closure but recognition in the courts for what has happened to you.
Here is a look at some of the shocking statistics surrounding domestic violence and an insight into the effect it can have on its victims.
Twenty People Per Minute Are Physically Abused:
If you didn’t think that domestic violence was a major issue in our society you will likely be shocked to discover that, according to figures published by NCADV, ten million people per year suffer this form of abuse, which equates to almost twenty people each minute.
The fact that these figures and estimates are even available is a testament to a changing attitude in our society that domestic abuse is not acceptable in any shape or form.
Thankfully, victims are more inclined to speak out about what goes on behind closed doors.
An Increased Risk Of Murder:
Another major issue and cause for concern are that when there are firearms present in a home where domestic abuse is being perpetrated this increases the risk of a murder five-fold.
Intimate partner violence accounts for about 15% of all violent crimes and it is very worrying to consider that a victim who lives in a home where guns are present could find their life is threatened when the abuse escalates to a terrifying level.
Domestic Violence Is Not Confined To One Gender:
There is a tendency to believe that domestic violence only concerns women who are victims at the hands of men but the reality is that a good number of victims are men.
It is estimated that as many as 40% of domestic violence victims are male.
Studies suggest that violence towards men is more low-level in comparison to the levels of violence experienced by women victims, but there is also the mental torment to consider, which can be a significant factor and is an unseen issue in comparison to physical scars.
Calls For Help:
As more people are prepared to speak out and seek help these days this has resulted in a rise in the number of calls to domestic violence hotlines.
Around the country, on a typical day, there will be some 20,000 calls made to these hotlines.
A Link to Depression And Suicide:
It is perhaps not surprising to learn that domestic abuse victims are considered to be more likely to suffer from depression and display a greater propensity toward committing suicide.
The mental toll that domestic abuse takes on its victims should never be underestimated.
Not All Injuries Are Reported:
There are still too many people suffering in silence and this conclusion is drawn from the discovery that only 34% of people who are injured in a domestic abuse incident seek medical care for their injuries.
These statistics should be a wake-up call that more needs to be done with regard to tackling domestic violence and victims should know that there is help out there and something can be done to put an end to the suffering.
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