Actions to End Domestic Violence

Volunteer your time or donate money to an organization that seeks to end domestic violence.

If you are being abused and want to get safe :

• Develop a safety plan
• Save money in a secret place
• Hide social security cards, birth certificates, checks and/or bank cards in your secret place
• Have an extra set of car keys made and hide in your secret place
• Document your injuries, use a journal and/or take photographs
• Ask for help! Call for an advocate or tell a friend of your plans and ask for help

Helping a friend who is in an abusive relationship:

• Be non-judgmental
• Be a good listener, and ask questions that aren't threatening
• Be careful
• Remember that the abuser may be monitoring the victim's phone calls and activities. The abuser may be listening from another room, or checking the victim's mail. Be careful not to say or do anything that might result in the victim being injured
• Offer unconditional support
• Typically, victims in domestic violence relationships return to their abusers an average of seven times before leaving permanently. Let him or her know that you will help when and if you're asked, no matter what.
• Become informed
• Learn all you can about domestic violence. Gather a list of shelters, agencies and professionals that can help the victim when he or she is ready.
• Encourage the victim to document injuries
• Urge the victim to seek medical attention if he or she has been injured, and to be honest with the medical staff about the injuries. Encourage the victim to take pictures of the injuries and gather other evidence in case he  or she needs it at a later date.

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