National DV Awareness month begins

So, today officially starts the National DV Awareness Month. Although awareness should be spread year round, now is the time you have a reason to talk about it! If you've been wanting to talk to someone but have been nervous or just not known how to start it, you have an excuse now!

Ways to start showing your support and spreading awareness:

• Wear a purple ribbon! Purple ribbons represent DV awareness and when people ask what your ribbon is for, there is your opportunity to educate!
• Simply wear purple! Again if you wear purple over and over again, this will make people question "what's with the purple?" And, again, there's your opportunity.
• Post on facebook, twitter, etc. about DV awareness month. Offer an invite for people to ask you questions. 
• Attend events going on this month. You can check schedules of your local DV support teams by finding them online.
• Donate to your local DV task forces, homes, etc. Whether it's a financial donation or a donation of time by volunteering, these non-profit organizations can probably use all the help they can get! And they do such good work for those trying to escape a bad situation.
• Educate yourself on the topic! If you seem knowledgeable, someone in need may feel more comfortable confiding in you. You don't have to know it all but be open to learning! 

Most importantly, don't be afraid to talk about it. Yes, it's not a comfortable topic to talk about. But that is one of the reasons people in these situations don't confide in anyone. You have to start the conversation and open up about the tough stuff. Be understanding of how scary it is for someone to say they are being abused. Educate yourself and open up to those around you.

What if that person sitting next to you in the office is being abused and hasn't known how or who to tell. All of a sudden, you start talking about your purple ribbon and what it stands for and educating others in the office. That person suddenly realizes that people are on her/his side and they finally have an opportunity to confide in someone!

Periodically this month, I will post educational posts and materials to help you educate yourself more on the topic. If you have anything to add, please feel free to comment!

How else can you show support and spread awareness? Have you ever had an experience spreading awareness you want to share? Comment below and let us know!