Stress from holiday shopping, finances, and planning can aggravate volatile personalities. Abusers are more likely to partake of alcohol or drugs when they don’t have to work. If you are in an abusive relationship or are wondering if you are, the information links included below can help you with information to validate your concerns or provide resources to reach out for help and know you are not alone. The EAP office, Protective Services, and the Medical Clinic are all trained to help you feel safe and provide resources. Over the years, I have found HR departments to be very understanding in granting leave if the victims need to temporarily leave the area for safety. If you are not a victim but concerned about a coworker, friend or family member (or just want to be prepared to be able to help someone) the information will be helpful for you as well. I am including some national and local resources that can help you and the victim better understand the problem and what help is available. Due to real or perceived danger and or personal circumstances the victim may not feel leaving the situation is an option at the time. While victims must be allowed to be in control of deciding when they are ready to leave, discussing options and helping them create an emergency safety plan is always prudent. Remember when providing them resources, emails, text or voice messages may not be a safe way to communicate with them if their abuser has access to the information. Local domestic violence centers not only provide emergency shelter for women and children, but also provide counseling as well as consultation to the victim on legal options. Along with resources, I am including a link to a very informative 15-minute Ted Talk from an actual victim entitled “Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave”.
www.ted.com/talks
National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/
Louisiana
Safe Harbor North Shore https://safeharbornorthshore.org/
New Orleans: https://www.nola.gov/health-department/domestic-violence-prevention
Mississippi
Gulf Coast: Gulf Coast Center for Non- Violence http://www.gccfn.org/wordpress/
Hattiesburg: The Shafer Center https://www.theshafercenter.info/about-us
NASA Health 4 Life has some excellent on demand presentations on the topic of domestic violence. Health 4 Life – Home (sharepoint.com)
NASA’s Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Response Plan: https://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov
Please contact me anytime for confidential consultation or referral information.
Porter Pryor
228-363-4910 (cell)
porter.j.pryor@nasa.gov
Publish Date: December 2022