With the month of October well underway, most of us have already seen a pink ribbon or two celebrating breast cancer awareness month. Keep your eye out for purple ribbons, and sport your own, as October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Domestic violence is not just physical violence…..

• Domestic violence includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and emotional abuse.
• Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another.
• The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically.

The physical, mental, and economic effects of domestic violence are many. In terms of sexual health, women who suffer from intimate partner violence may be at an increased risk of contracting HIV or other STI's due to forced intercourse or prolonged exposure to stress. Unfortunately, 9.4% of women in the United States have been raped by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

If you or someone you know needs resources:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
• The first online and mobile accessible database of U.S. Domestic Violence providers: www.domesticshelters.org