October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October was first declared as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989. Since then, the month of October has been a time to acknowledge domestic violence survivors and be a voice for its victims. Sadly, domestic violence is prevalent in every community and affects all people regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. Physical violence is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior as part of a much larger, systematic pattern of dominance and control. Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma and even death. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime. Although there has been substantial progress in reducing domestic violence, an average of 20 people are physically abused by intimate partners every minute. This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually. One in three women and one in four men have been physically abused by an intimate partner, and one in five women and one in seven men have been severely physically abused by an intimate partner. Millions of Americans live in daily, silent fear within their own homes. In addition, every year millions of children are exposed to domestic violence. Domestic violence incidents affect every person within a home and can have long-lasting negative effects on children's emotional well-being, and social and academic functioning. We at the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office and our Victim Witness Division encourage the development of healthy, respectful and nonviolent relationships. Luckily, there are support systems available locally and nationally to aid the victims of domestic violence. • Open Arms of Findlay: Located at 401 W. Sandusky St., Findlay, www.openarmsfindlay.com (web chat available 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. Monday through Friday) 24 hour hotline, (419) 422-4766 and text line, (419)909-3337 (available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday) Open Arms also offers individual in-person appointments (if under age of 18, they offer one appointment before needing to obtain permission from a parent or guardian). • The Center for safe and Healthy Children: Located at 201 Merriweather Drive, Findlay, (419)425-1475, www.hancocksafechildren.org • Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN), www.odvn.org. If you would like to join the ODVN in changing lives and would like to donate to their LifeSaver Fund, which supports critical services and long term stability for survivors and their families, go to www.givebutter.com/LifeSaver2025 • Love is Respect: www.loveisrespect.org • Human Options: https://humanoptions.org • Stop the Hurt: www.stopthehurt.org • The Teen Project: www.choosecourage.org • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) 1-800-799-7233 If you believe you or someone you know may be the victim of domestic violence please contact the Hancock County Sheriff's Office at (419) 422-2424 or the Findlay Police Department at (419) 424-7150 to open a formal investigation. For more information on domestic violence please contact the Hancock County Prosecutor's office Victim Advocate Division at (419) 424-7089. Sean M. Abbott is the Hancock County Prosecutor. He can be reached at smabbott@co.hancock.oh.us.