“Safety Support Solidarity!
Like safety, there is no one-size-fits-all definition of support for survivors. Often the most important thing you can do to support the survivors in your life is to simply be there for them, without judgement or expectation. If you are an advocate or other helping professional, you likely know this already, as supporting survivors is a huge part of your work. That said, we can all find ways to support the survivors in our lives, regardless of our profession.
What does “safety” look like to you? Freedom from violence? A roof over your head? When we say that survivors deserve safety, we mean that all survivors – and in fact, all people – deserve to live in safety and dignity, however they define it for themselves. This can include, but is not limited to:
- Physical safety: freedom from violence, safe housing, adequate food, access to medical care
- Emotional safety: trusting and respectful relationships, being able to express thoughts and feelings without judgement or ridicule, feeling a sense of belonging
- Financial safety: stability, access to finances, freedom from housing/food insecurity”
VAW net (How can I stand with survivors for Domestic Violence Awareness Month and beyond?)
“October is Domestic Violence Month—and a good time to be reminded that women are not the only victims. Men are victims too.
Domestic violence statistics updated October 2024 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- In the United States, nearly every 1 in 2 women and more than 2 in 5 men reported experiencing intimate partner violence at some point in their lifetime.
- Every minute, 32 people experience intimate partner violence in the United States.
- 1 in 4 men in the United States has endured severe physical violence from an intimate partner.”
Psychology Today (Male Victims of Intimate Partner Violence | Psychology Today)