The following article is the final installment of a five-week series focusing on raising awareness about domestic violence. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and we hope to educate our community on this very important issue Locally, the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center has been serving victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and child abuse since 1978. Last year, HCWC served 2,055 victims of abuse (face-to-face) primarily from Hays and Caldwell Counties. 816 of those were victims of domestic violence.
In 2021, the United Nations coined the phrase “shadow pandemic” in a report that examined the unprecedented increase in violence against women that occurred during the COVID pandemic. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine estimates that domestic violence cases increased by 25 to 33 percent worldwide during the pandemic. In the United States, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is reporting an all-time high of over 80,000 contacts monthly from individuals seeking assistance for interpersonal abuse. Similarly, HCWC has experienced a significant increase in individuals seeking information and assistance through our HELPline, with our call volume up 13% through August 2022.
Risk factors inherent in the pandemic lockdowns and restrictions have had unintended consequences for those experiencing domestic violence. The transition to work from home and online school, which resulted from stay-at-home orders, has isolated survivors and reduced outlets for support, such as coworkers, teachers, family, and friends. Loss of employment and income and inflation caused by ongoing supply chain issues has increased financial stress within relationships. Efforts to keep everyone safe in the midst of the pandemic have unintentionally increased the number of individuals experiencing violence within their homes and the severity of violence many are experiencing.
