The Domestic Violence and Abuse Prevention (DVAP) series will provide a call to action to educate, understand and formulate a plan against domestic violence. Domestic violence is the occurrence of abusive behaviors within a relationship. The Department of Justice (DOJ) defines domestic violence as “crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner (U.S. DOJ, 2022). Notably, domestic violence is often rooted in mental health and studies have found that the current pandemic has elevated this issue.

The Domestic Violence and Abuse Prevention Series, “Choose L.I.F.E.”

Listen to the signs (Follow your intuition)

Investigate the unknown (Don’t be deceived)

Focus your attention (Focus on the cues- spot the warning signs)

Educate yourself and others (Understand domestic violence, mental health, and abuse)