SAN ANGELO, Texas — Approximately 40% of women and 34% of men in Texas alone will experience some degree of partner abuse in their lifetimes.
Whether physical, emotional, verbal, etc., domestic violence happens more often than the average person might realize.
With this in mind, October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which first began in the late 1980s to create a safe space for victims to share their stories.
"But as far as any age group, any ethnicity, any race, any level of education" can be impacted by domestic and/or family violence, Family Shelter of San Angelo non-resident case manager Rebecca Alexander said.
According to Alexander, there are currently 23 women and children living in the shelter with more than 100 Concho Valley residents utilizing its services.
Often, many of these victims have been hurt by family violence, which also includes stepparents and siblings along with romantic partners.
At first, small signs - like checking a partner's phone or trying to control who they follow on social media - might slowly start to come up.
From there, the abuse can quickly start to get worse.
"And that's the purpose, so all types of abuse, regardless of whether it's emotional, verbal, psychological, physical, financial, the entire purpose is to gain power and control over a victim," Alexander said. "And then it escalates into something big until you have a victim who really feels like they don't have any power and control and without the knowledge about the services that are available to them, they don't know that it's there."
Victims often go back to their abusers approximately 13 times. Being isolated and having responsibilities like children, pets and finances can make it even more difficult to leave. Without knowledge of available services, victims might also feel they have nowhere else to turn.
"And that's why it's so, so important for us to get the word out about what we offer, they at least know there's an option [and] if and when it comes to a point where they need it, we're here," Alexander said.
All services offered by the shelter are confidential and free. Counseling, legal services, financial information, housing, job hunting, etc., are just some of the resources available to those who need it.
Support groups are also available for both residents and non-residents and the shelter itself houses a kitchen, dining area, child play center, laundry room, multipurpose room and more.
It's important to be aware of the signs and symptoms not just during October, but all year round.
"And so raising awareness and just letting them know, you know, the Concho Valley's huge and making sure that they know that they have someone to reach out to, somewhere to get help without any judgment, without any pressure," Alexander said.
The shelter will also be hosting a candlelight vigil Oct. 26 to honor those who have died from family violence.
Visit FamilyShelterSA to learn more.