A one-day snapshot last year of domestic violence in Connecticut revealed a wide swath of damage in the state. With all 15 domestic violence programs in Connecticut responding to the National Census of Domestic Violence Services, these were the numbers:

  • Total number of domestic violence victims who sought refuge in emergency shelter or transitional housing: 332
  • Number of adults: 158
  • Number of children: 174
  • Number of adults and children who received non-residential assistance (such as counseling, legal advocacy): 677
  • Number of hotline calls answered: 229
  • Nationally, one in four women will be the victim of domestic violence at some point in their lifetime. And three women are killed every day, on average, by a current or former intimate partner.

“Domestic violence is frequent, severe and costly,” says Dr. D’Andrea Joseph, a Hartford Hospital trauma surgeon and domestic violence advocate (October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month). “At our Level One Trauma Center we are researching better methods to screen and identify domestic violence victims. We are also working closely with the Hartford Interval House, the state’s largest domestic violence agency-shelter.”

The fallout from  the Great Recession and a slow economic recover has devastated local programs that help abuse victims. According to the 2012 Mary Kay Truth About Abuse Survey, almost 80 percent of domestic violence shelters nationwide reported an increase in women seeking help, even as funding decreased for the vast majority.

“We’re helping the Hartford Interval House strengthen their core services such as counseling to abused women and their children ,” says Dr. Joseph, “and by assisting them increase capacity of their volunteer program. And our staff is volunteering to directly help this critically important community resource.”

The National Network To End Domestic Violence says abusers exhibit a variety of behaviors to control victims. It lists the following warning signs that someone might be abusive:

  • Wants to move too quickly into the relationship.
  • Early in the relationship flatters you constantly, and seems “too good to be true.”
  • Wants you all to him- or herself; insists that you stop spending time with your friends or family.
  • Insists that you stop participating in hobbies or activities, quit school, or quit your job.
  • Does not honor your boundaries.
  • Is excessively jealous and accuses you of being unfaithful.
  • Wants to know where you are all of the time and frequently calls, emails and texts you throughout the day.
  • Criticizes or puts you down; says you are crazy, stupid and-or fat or unattractive, or that no one else would ever want or love you.
  • Takes no responsibility for his or her behavior and blames others.
  • Has a history of abusing others.
  • Blames the entire failure of previous relationships on his or her former partner; for example, “My ex was totally crazy.”
  • Takes your money or runs up your credit card debt.
  • Rages out of control with you but can maintain composure around others.

For more information, visit the Hartford Hospital Injury Prevention Center.