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Four NFL players were benched in the past month for incidents of abuse toward their partners or children.
Sadly, these actions are not limited to the NFL and are just the tip of the iceberg. Domestic violence is a national epidemic. Statistics indicate that one in four women and one in 10 men have experienced sexual violence, domestic violence or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. During the first three weeks of September, Passageway-a program of BWH's Center for Community Health and Health Equity (CCHHE) that works to improve the health, well-being and safety of those experiencing abuse from an intimate partner-worked with 82 people who identified as victims of domestic violence. Passageway and BWH are working to raise awareness of the epidemic during October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and beyond.
Domestic violence remains a pervasive public health issue that impacts the health and well-being of the communities in which BWHers live, work and play. In addition to the physical consequences of violence, people face mental, emotional and spiritual consequences from experience and exposure to violence. As a health care institution, BWH takes this issue seriously and encourages all clinicians to ask patients if they feel safe in their relationships. Health care providers can impact change by providing trauma-informed, compassionate and non-judgmental care.
As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, BWH leaders and frontline staff are taking part in the third year of the "Do No Harm" campaign. The campaign, which appears on the television screens across BWH and its distributed campus, features participants sharing personal messages of hope, support and inspiration to those experiencing domestic violence and the broader community. Cheryl Clark, MD, ScD, director of Health Equity Research and Intervention for the CCHHE (pictured above), is one of many BWHers who have taken part in the annual campaign.
Passageway is also organizing and facilitating several events this month to generate domestic violence awareness and promote safety and well-being for everyone in our community. BWHers can stop by an information table on the second-floor mezzanine by the Shop on the Pike all month. They can also honor survivors of violence at a service on Oct. 15, and learn more about the intersection of domestic and community violence as well as human trafficking at Domestic Violence Grand Rounds on Oct. 7 and 24, respectively.
BWHers can join the cause virtually on Facebook (Passageway at BWHC) or Twitter (@passagewayBWH). For more information, email passageway@partners.org. View the full calendar of events.