HOUSTON — October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, intimate partner violence is common in the United States. KHOU 11 has reported dozens of incidents across the Houston area involving intimate partner violence this year. That's why we must keep the discussion going.
Editor's note: The video in this story is from a recent report on an intimate partner violence incident.
In a KHOU 11+ special that will stream live Thursday at 8 a.m., we’ll hear from a family who lost their loved one to intimate partner violence. We’ll speak with Amy Smith with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Dr. Jasmine Boone and Maisha Colter with Avda (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse), to help better understand the cycle of IPV and how to navigate it as someone in the situation or if someone you love is in an abusive relationship. We’ll also answer your questions live. You can text them now to 713-526-1111.
KHOU 11+ is available on Roku, Fire and Apple TV. Here's how to download it.
According to the CDC, about 41% of women and 26% of men experienced sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner. More than 61 million women and 53 million men have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
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What is intimate partner violence – commonly referred to as domestic violence?
IPV is abuse or aggression that happens between people in a current or past romantic relationship. It can happen as few as one time or regularly over years and it varies in severity from yelling and name-calling to extreme physical violence.
While a lot of people classify domestic violence or intimate partner violence as physical, it’s much more than that.
What constitutes abuse?
IPV can include several behaviors such as:
- Physical violence
- Sexual violence
- Stalking
- Psychological aggression
- Financial or economic control
- Technological control
IPV can often end in injury or death. According to the CDC, data from U.S. crime reports suggest that about one in five homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner. The reports also found that more than half of female homicide victims are killed by a current or former male intimate partner.
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Intimate partner and family violence cases in the Houston area have increased at an alarming rate. Victims often suffer in silence because they feel scared, helpless or ashamed.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, here are some discreet ways to reach out for help.
The Houston Area Women’s Center has a 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic violence at 713-528-2121 or 1-800-256-0551.
The Family Time Crisis Center can also be reached 24 hours a day at 281-446-2615.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Crisis Text Line: Text START to 88788.