You're a Friend... Be Prepared

For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I've offered a challenge. Do something, large or small, to raise awareness or help someone affected by relationship abuse.. and I'm offering ideas on what you can do. Today's suggestions revolve around preparing yourself so you know what to do if someone you care about is in need.

I'm often asked why women or men stay in abusive relationships. There are as many answers for that as there are relationships: fear, hoping that something will happen that just makes the abuse end,  concern for breaking a family apart, worry about what will happen to the kids, economics, and love (yes quite simply they love their partner and don't want the relationship to end... just the abuse.)

It's hard (frustrating, and sometimes terrifying) to know that someone you know is in an abusive relationship, but not be able to do anything about it. So what can you do when someone you know is in an abusive relationship?

• Support them. Listen, let them know that they don't deserve this abuse, tell them you care, . And know the limits of what you can offer. For more info on how to help 
• Educate yourself about abuse so you can better understand what your friend is going through,  . For more info about why someone may stay in the relationship
• Provide them with resources for assistance. Here's some info on how DVRC can help