Let's Talk About It with Jenny/Domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic

You can't make decisions for others, but you can make sure they have your support. Intimate partner violence, a more inclusive term than domestic violence, is a form of abuse aimed at gaining power or control over another. It can include physical, sexual, and emotional, or financial abuse, or a combination of all the above. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 4 women in the United States have experienced physical intimate partner violence. UN Women has referred to violence against women during COVID-19 as the "shadow pandemic" lurking in the background as healthcare systems are drained and shelters are at capacity. During a period when everyone is struggling to adjust to the rapid changes due to COVID-19, it's critical that we learn more about intimate partner violence, its red flags, and how to support survivors. The Warning Signs of Abuse: withdrawing from others and making excuses not to see friends or family or do activities they once enjoyed; seeming anxious around their partner or afraid of their partner; having frequent bruises or infuries they lie about or can't explain; having limited access to money, credit cards or a car; showing an extreme change in personality; getting frequent calls from a significant other checking up on them; having a partner who has a temper, is easily jealous or very possessive; and clothing that could be hiding bruises, like long-sleeved shirts in the summer.