October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and unfortunately this is an issue that many families continue to deal with. One in three women and one in four men are survivors of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior that occurs between family members and/or intimate partners to gain power and control. Many people think domestic violence is only physical abuse, but it can take the form of psychological, sexual or economic abuse as well.
Recently, the numbers of reported domestic violence incidents have been on the rise in our borough. While more and more people are reporting these issues, others are still afraid to seek help due to a myriad of circumstances. There is no shame in being in this situation, and help is always available if you need it.
A healthy relationship is one where both partners treat each other equally, respectfully and supportively. It is important to be aware of indicators that your relationship is becoming unhealthy and abusive. Some common signs of this type of relationship are when your intimate partner:
- Accuses you of cheating and being disloyal
- Makes you feel worthless
- Hurts you by hitting, choking or kicking you
- Intimidates and threatens to hurt you or someone you love
- Threatens to hurt themselves if they don’t get what they want
- Tries to control what you do and who you see
- Isolates you from your family and friends
- Pressures or forces you into unwanted sex
- Controls your access to money
- Stalks you, including calling you constantly or following you
One of these resources is the Staten Island Family Justice Center, located at 126 Stuyvesant Place, which opened earlier this year. The Family Justice Center provides free criminal justice, civil legal and social services all in one central location. Victims can meet with a prosecutor, speak with a trained counselor and apply for housing and financial assistance in one place. Children age three and up can play in a children’s room while their parents receive services.
The center is open Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm. No appointment is necessary; if you prefer to call, the center can be reached at 718-697-4300.
In addition, anyone can call the Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 at 1-800-621-HOPE. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For more information about services available to domestic violence victims, visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/ocdv/html/home/home.shtml