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Domestic violence feeds never-ending cycle
Now that the election is over, it is high time for us to spend some time and energy on chronic problems in our midst. There is no better time to do that than now, when the holiday season begins.
It should be a happy time when families get together and share the festivities. But it doesn't always work that way. For many, the holidays are a time of heightened frustration and anger. That will be especially true this year when a sagging economy means fewer dollars and when workers fear being laid off.
For some, the outlet for anger and frustration is domestic violence. Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated response. Here are a few facts to consider:
Eighty-five percent of domestic violence victims are women. Forty percent of them have children under 12 in the home.
Every five minutes, an Arizona law enforcement officer responds to a domestic violence call.
Every 19 minutes, an Arizonan is arrested for domestic violence.
Every five days in Arizona, someone dies from domestic violence. In the same time period, 15 women are murdered in the United States.
This is not a small problem. And it is a problem with no end given the 40 percent of victims who have young children in the home.
In fact, every 39 minutes in Arizona a young child witnesses domestic violence in his or her home. Children learn by example. A girl who sees her mother abused will assume being beaten is something that will happen to her and she just has to bear it. A boy will assume it is proper behavior. Violence in a father begets violence in a son.
And while the toll on victims and their children is horrific, there is a significant price we all pay. Victims lose an estimated 8 million days of paid work a year. The dollar cost for intimate partner violence is $5.8 billion a year, including $4.1 billion of direct medical and mental health care costs.
All of this is to say that domestic violence is not normal behavior. If you are in an abusive relationship, you need to get out. There is help available. If you don't do it for yourself, do it for your children. And if you know someone you think is in trouble, don't stand idly by because it is none of your business.
If you want help with how to approach someone, go to the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence Web site, www.azcadv.com. They have suggestions on how to talk to victims as well as resources for them. Please, let's all do our part to end this cycle of suffering.
It should be a happy time when families get together and share the festivities. But it doesn't always work that way. For many, the holidays are a time of heightened frustration and anger. That will be especially true this year when a sagging economy means fewer dollars and when workers fear being laid off.
For some, the outlet for anger and frustration is domestic violence. Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated response. Here are a few facts to consider:
Eighty-five percent of domestic violence victims are women. Forty percent of them have children under 12 in the home.
Every five minutes, an Arizona law enforcement officer responds to a domestic violence call.
Every 19 minutes, an Arizonan is arrested for domestic violence.
Every five days in Arizona, someone dies from domestic violence. In the same time period, 15 women are murdered in the United States.
This is not a small problem. And it is a problem with no end given the 40 percent of victims who have young children in the home.
In fact, every 39 minutes in Arizona a young child witnesses domestic violence in his or her home. Children learn by example. A girl who sees her mother abused will assume being beaten is something that will happen to her and she just has to bear it. A boy will assume it is proper behavior. Violence in a father begets violence in a son.
And while the toll on victims and their children is horrific, there is a significant price we all pay. Victims lose an estimated 8 million days of paid work a year. The dollar cost for intimate partner violence is $5.8 billion a year, including $4.1 billion of direct medical and mental health care costs.
All of this is to say that domestic violence is not normal behavior. If you are in an abusive relationship, you need to get out. There is help available. If you don't do it for yourself, do it for your children. And if you know someone you think is in trouble, don't stand idly by because it is none of your business.
If you want help with how to approach someone, go to the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence Web site, www.azcadv.com. They have suggestions on how to talk to victims as well as resources for them. Please, let's all do our part to end this cycle of suffering.
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