According to a CDC National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. This equates to more than 10 million women and men per year.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) was launched in October 1987 as a way to connect individuals and organizations working on domestic violence issues while raising awareness for those issues. Over the years, much progress has been made to support domestic violence victims and surviviors. Still, more can always be done.

UWest stands against all forms of domestic violence. As the saying goes, “Love shouldn’t hurt.” For DVAM 2021, our Wellness Center Manager and Clinical Supervisor, April Afoa, is leading a campus-wide initiative in observance of domestic violence awareness. Here is her message:

Put on, paint & post purple to raise awareness about domestic & intimate partner violence. The color purple is a symbol of peace, courage, survival, & dedication to ending violence. Get your free purple disposable face mask from UWest’s Wellness Center and purple virtual background for your Zoom meetings attached to this newsletter. Click here to learn if your relationship is healthy, how abuse is more than physical aggression, how to help a friend, safety planning and resources for help. An effective & moving illustration of the power & control tactics of abusers, and why victims cannot simply leave, is the Netflix series “MAID.” Be sure to include in your social media posts #UWest #DVAM21 as well as this link. Everyone who emails wellness@uwest.edu a picture of how they painted October 21 purple will be entered into a drawing to win UWest swag!

April has created two virtual backgrounds for download and to be use during Zoom (and other online conference tools) meetings: