Unsafe at Home for the Holidays - the Inside Out podcast - 11/27/24
A challenging but important topic, on the "Inside Out" podcast Domestic violence increases during the holidays. How can you help a friend trapped in domestic violence, or, if you are the person being hurt, how can you get help? Martha’s guests on Inside Out are Scott DeBruycker Safe Journey and Deb Kuehner of The Potter’s Hands. Unsafe at Home for the Holidays The seasonal classic “There’s no place like home for the holidays” has an ominous ring for families in violent households, where every year there’s a spike in reports of domestic violence. “The holidays can often bring additional stress, whether it’s financial pressures, family conflicts, or heightened expectations,” says Scott DeBruycker. “And that can exacerbate tensions in households where domestic violence is already present.” DeBruycker is development coordinator for Safe Journey in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Operating since 1978, Safe Journey offers victims and survivors of domestic violence with a shelter, counseling, and other services. “You know, when victims of intimate partner abuse don’t get help, the impact can have profound and long-lasting effects,” DeBruycker says. Deb Kuehner sees some of those long-lasting effects every day as she works with women who have been trafficked for sex. Kuehner’s the founder and executive director of The Potter's Hands Foundation, the western New York non-profit that's been serving survivors of sexual exploitation for eleven years. “The majority of the women we serve have experienced violence in their homes from a very young age,” she says. “They believe it’s normal for families to function that way.” Both DeBruycker and Kuehner say the best way to be a friend to someone caught in domestic violence is by being both a steady, listening presence, and an informed friend who knows the available domestic violence services. “Even talking about options with them, like do you have a family that you could move in with? Are you aware that there are local shelters? There is a domestic abuse hotline number. Those are some of the things that I think are the most helpful,” Kuehner says. “Avoid blaming them,” DeBruycker adds. “Let them know that help is available. Encourage them to reach out to local resources, but understand that leaving an abusive situation is often a long and difficult process. Be patient. Remind them you’re there for them when they’re ready. Offering emotional support and practical help, like providing information or connecting them with services, can make a real difference.” Listen to this Inside Out news feature for more ways to help or get help. If you or someone you love is being hurt at home, you can contact Safe Journey 24/7 at 814-438-2675 or by going to mysafejourney.org. You can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, also 24/7, at 800-799-7233 or by texting the word BEGIN to 88788. Learn more about Safe Journey at www.mysafejourney.org. Learn more about The Potters Hands Foundation at www.thepottershandsfoundation.org To be safe from an abuser when contacting either organization, please be very certain that you are alone or that you are able to click off of the website quickly. #InsideOut #FamilyLifeNews
