SAUGUS — The Saugus Police Department is offering resources and educating the public on the warning signs of domestic violence.
With October designated as domestic-violence awareness month, the Saugus Police Department chose to highlight some signs that the public should be aware of in order to protect themselves and others from the harmful effects of domestic violence.
Each year, more than 10 million people in the U.S. experience physical abuse by a partner. On average, one in three women and one in four men experience some form of physical violence committed by an intimate partner, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV).
Here are some of the warning signs of domestic violence and characteristics of an abusive partner, which were provided by the Saugus Police Department and the NCADV:
- An abusive partner frequently denies or attempts to minimize the seriousness of violence and its impact on the victim.
- An abusive individual objectifies the victim, viewing that person as property or a sexual object.
- An abusive partner has low self-esteem.
- An abusive partner may blame their violence on stress, alcohol or other external factors.
- An abusive partner may be perceived as friendly and kind by others, as that individual may be amicable and pleasant in between abusive events.
Red flags include:
- Extreme jealousy.
- Possessive behavior.
- Unpredictability.
- Short, angry temper.
- Cruelty to animals.
- Verbal abuse.
- Extremely controlling actions.
- Non-consensual sex.
- Ignoring agreed-upon birth control or sabotaging birth control.
- Blaming the victim for abuse.
- Preventing the victim from going to work or school.
- Financial control.
- Abuse of other people and/or animals.
- Accusations that the victim is flirting with others.
- Control of the victim’s apparel and actions.
- Demeaning the victim, privately or publicly, as well as embarrassing that person in front of others.
- Harassing the victim at his or her workplace.
According to the Mayo Clinic, children who are survivors of abuse can often feel guilty, ashamed, or confused, and may even be afraid to disclose the abuse, especially when their abuser is a parent, relative or friend.
The signs a child is a victim of abuse may include withdrawal from friends or usual activities. There may be a change in behavior, such as aggression, anger, hostility or even hyperactivity, or a change in school performance.
A child may even show signs of depression, anxiety or unusual fears, or a sudden loss of self-confidence. There may be a lack of supervision and frequent absences from school. Reluctance to leave school activities, as if he or she doesn’t want to go home and attempts to run away are both signs that a child might need help.
Rebellious or defiant behavior; self-harm or attempts at suicide; unexplained injuries, such as bruises, fractures or burns; and injuries that don’t match the given explanation are all signs of abuse in a child.
There are many resources if someone you know or you are ever a victim of abuse. Some of those resources are listed below:
- In an emergency, call 911.
- For anonymous, confidential help available 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224. If you’re unable to speak safely, you can chat online, or text START to 88788. Additional crisis organizations and help lines can be found by at ncadv.org.
- SafeLink is Massachusetts’ statewide 24/7 toll-free, multilingual hotline and a resource for anyone affected by domestic violence. SafeLink’s 24-hour hotline is available by calling 877-785-2020.
- RESPOND, Inc. is a local domestic-violence prevention group that provides free, confidential services and resources for survivors of domestic violence. To learn more, please visit their website at www.respondinc.org, or call RESPOND’s support line Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 617-623-5900.
- The Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance has compiled a list of services by county, which is available online, as well as lists of community-based resources and residential programs.
- Learn about safety plans at thehotline.org, where you can find an interactive guide to safety planning. A safety plan is a personalized plan that includes ways to remain safe while in a relationship, planning to leave or after you leave.
- The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline is dedicated to teens ages 13-18 who may be experiencing dating abuse. For anonymous, confidential help available 24/7, call 1-866-331-9474, text LOVEIS to 22522 or chat online.
The Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance has also created SAFEPLAN brochures in four different languages: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese. These plans can help save lives and connect victims and survivors to resources that could help them as well as prepare them in the event of an emergency.
