BUFFALO, N.Y. — October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and a new report from the state comptroller's office shows the number of domestic violence victims rose by more than 8% last year.
"We really want to normalize reaching out and supporting those survivors," says Cameron Burns with Crisis Services.
For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Cameron Burns with Crisis Services says you can help get the word out about the services available for survivors and that can be as simple as just being there for them.
Burns is the Community Education and Outreach Coordinator for Crisis Services.
"Being that listening ear and saying, hey, you can call Crisis Services 24/7 for help. There are shelters available, and one of the cool services that we provide is we respond to area hospitals 24/7, 365, to assist survivors of domestic violence right in the hospital in a safe space so they can get checked out medically, and a victim advocate will come there, so people having that information and telling their friends when they're in need is a huge help to those survivors," explained Cameron Burns.
Burns wants people to know you're not bringing shame to your family, or to your community, by asking for help. And she says that by talking about these things, you can help end the cycle of domestic violence.
"We know that children who witness domestic violence in their family home are more likely to then perpetuate it, or be a victim of it later in their life as well, so hopefully by talking about it and normalizing getting help, and things like that, then we can help break that cycle. We like to talk about it, too, that of course anyone of any gender can experience this and we want to talk about that and let people of any gender identity know that they can access these services as well because there's a lot of stigma about that it's just for women, It's certainly not," said Cameron Burns.
There are other groups in Western New York that help survivors of domestic violence including Child and Family Services. That non-profit had an event on Monday night to bring awareness to the issue.