Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is held annually in October to bring advocates together to help end domestic violence. In addition to physical harm, domestic violence also leads to significant mental health issues. Knowing how to identify and prevent domestic violence is important to ensuring the safety of yourself and others.
Domestic violence can include (but is not limited to) the use of:
- Physical and sexual violence
- Threats and intimidation
- Emotional abuse
- Economic deprivation
Domestic violence can include behaviors that physically harm, arouse fear, prevent a partner from doing what they wish or force them to behave in ways they do not want.
Anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender can be a victim – or perpetrator – of domestic violence. It can happen to people who are married, living together or who are dating. It can affect people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.
Signs of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence does not look the same in every relationship because every relationship is different. However, one thing most abusive relationships have in common is that the abusive partner does many kinds of things to exert more power and control over their partner.
Some signs of an abusive relationship include a partner who:
- Tells their partner that they can never do anything right
- Shows extreme jealousy of their partner's friends and time spent away
- Keeps or discourages their partner from seeing friends or family members
- Insults, demeans or shames their partner with put-downs
- Controls every penny spent in the household
- Takes their partner's money or refuses to give money to their partner for necessary expenses
- Looks at their partner or acts in ways that scare them
- Controls who their partner sees, where they go, or what they do
- Prevents their partner from making their own decisions
- Tells their partner that they are a bad parent or threatens to harm or take away their children
- Prevents their partner from working or attending school
- Destroys their partner's property or threatens to hurt or kill their pets
- Intimidates their partner with guns, knives or other weapons
- Pressures their partner to have sex when they do not want to or do things sexually that they are not comfortable with
- Pressures their partner to use drugs or alcohol
CONNECT WITH RESOURCES
E(F)AP resources and assistance are available to U.S. and Canadian Mauser Packaging Solutions employees and members of their household through our benefit programs.*
U.S.: THE HARTFORD: Enhanced Ability Assist® - Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Call toll free 1-800-96-HELPS (1-800-964-3577) or visit www.guidanceresources.com.
View EAP Flyer (English)
View EAP Flyer (Spanish)
Canada: Manulife – Homewood Health/Santé: Resilience® Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
Call toll free 1-866-644-0326 or visit www.manulife.ca.
*Resources and assistance available regardless of enrollment in healthcare benefits.
Note: Similar programs may be offered in other countries through Company provided offerings or government healthcare systems. Check with your local Human Resources representative for available resources.
What can you do?
There are some ways you can help prevent and end violence:
- Call the police if you see or hear evidence of domestic violence.
- Support a friend or family member who may be in an abusive relationship.
- Teach your children to respect others and to treat others as they would like to be treated. Lead by example.
- Volunteer at a local domestic violence shelter or another organization helping survivors or working to prevent violence.
- Protect yourself. Take a self-defense class.
- Make a safe plan to leave. If you do not know how to plan to leave, contact a professional for help and support.
What assistance is available?
Victims of abuse or violence at the hands of someone they know or love, and people who are recovering from an assault by a stranger, are not alone. Immediate help and support are available from a number of sources:
- The National (U.S.) Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-799-SAFE (7233) and 800-787-3224 (TTY). Spanish speakers are available. Hotline staffers offer crisis intervention and referrals. They can also connect women to shelters and can send out written information.
- The National (U.S.) Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-656-4673. When you call, you will hear a menu and can choose #1 to talk to a counselor. You will be connected to a counselor in your area who can help you.
- Click here to access a list of International domestic abuse hotline resources.