Coronavirus and the Impact on Child Abuse & Domestic Violence

This is Your Professional Sista, Marsha C. McLean with a Mental Health Moment. 

Across the country Americans are adjusting to a new normal, quarantine.  American families are huddling inside their homes to reduce the spread of coronavirus.  As gyms, stores and movie theaters close as a proactive measure, what about the women and children who are in unsafe homes?  School and work are oftentimes a respite period from abuse and violence.  During times of social distancing, many families will spend a lot of uninterrupted time at home.  This new social distancing and quarantine give abusers more time to inflict pain. 

According to National Coalition against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 10 million people every year are physically abused by an intimate partner and 20,000 calls are placed each day to domestic violence hotlines.  It is estimated that between 3 to 10 million children are exposed to adult domestic violence each year.  Childhood violence has a significant long-term impact on children exposed to these environments.   

Anyone concerned about their safety should start creating a Safety Plan.  The safety plan should include safe places to go if the environment becomes too volatile, phone numbers of trusted people to call for support, important documentation (state identification and social security cards) and cash.   

With an abuser in the home, it may be hard to make phone calls.  If you need help, below are some available 24 hour a day resources and remember, 911 is always an option.

The National Association of Domestic Violence hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) 

The Center for Women & Families hotline: 844-BE-SAFE-1 (844-237-2331)  

If you enjoyed this mental health moment please follow me on Instagram @your_professional_sista. 

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