October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

BISMARCK, ND—This fall, the North Dakota Domestic & Sexual Violence Coalition (NDDSVC) is spreading the message “Every1KnowsSome1” to highlight how common domestic violence is across the state. They say that more than 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will experience sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime (CDC). In 2024 alone, 6,334 new victims of domestic violence were served by 17 domestic violence victim advocacy centers across North Dakota.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), and as the leader against domestic violence in North Dakota, NDDSVC coordinates a statewide campaign to help North Dakota communities identify and eliminate domestic violence. All month long, the coalition will be sharing information on domestic violence and how to support survivors. The coalition is also collaborating with their member organizations—18 domestic violence and sexual assault victim advocacy centers across the state—to share their own custom-made air fresheners that promote “A Fresh Start,” a nod to what many victims are looking for when they contact an advocacy center.

“Everyone knows someone who has experienced domestic violence, whether it’s a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbor,” said Seth O’Neill, Executive Director of NDDSVC. “Domestic Violence Awareness Month gives us the opportunity to not only celebrate the strength of the survivors in our lives, but to also have important conversations about domestic violence so that we can prevent this deadly crime from happening in the future.”

NDDSVC encourages community members to support survivors and call out harmful attitudes and beliefs that can lead to violent actions. They say that domestic violence affects all of us, so all of us must be part of the solution to end it.

To get involved in Domestic Violence Awareness Month, go to www.nddsvc.org/get-involved/awareness/domestic-violence-awareness-month.

For victims and survivors of domestic violence, free and confidential help is available 24/7 in North Dakota. Go to nddsvc.org/find-help to find support near you.

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The North Dakota Domestic & Sexual Violence Coalition (NDDSVC) supports and serves as a unified voice for 18 domestic violence/sexual assault (DV/SA) victim advocacy centers across North Dakota. From training and educational materials to public awareness and legislative policy change, NDDSVC works to provide North Dakota communities with the best tools and information to better support victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.