October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We encourage you to share this information with your friends, family, and coworkers in an effort to help those who suffer abuse.
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Domestic violence, relationship abuse, stalking, sexual assault . . . All such forms of violence are more common than we like to admit. Sometimes we suspect someone we know is a victim but we don't know what to do. Often it seems easier to look the other way, change the subject, think about something else. Sometimes we try to deny the fact that we, ourselves, are victims. But these forms of violence will not go away on their own. We must identify them, call them what they are, stand up to them, help those who suffer, help ourselves. We can do that most readily–and safely–through education, understanding, and using tools and resources that have been developed for that purpose.
Fortunately there are many resources to help.
- If you are in danger right now, call 911.
- Click here to get help (National Network to End Domestic Violence.)
- Click here to learn about organizations in Montana that help survivors (Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.)
- Click here to learn how to get a Montana Order of Protection (Montana Department of Justice-Victim Services).
- Click here to learn what to do if you are sexually assaulted (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network.)
- Click here to learn more about Relationship Abuse/Sexual Abuse/Stalking from www.MontanaLawHelp.org.