Domestic Violence Plays Significant Role in Health of Mississippians

In 2013, over 2,000 women and their children sought emergency shelter from one of Mississippi’s 14 domestic violence shelters. Additionally, the shelters received over 45,000 crisis calls from Mississippians needing help or services. During the same time period, police and sheriff departments responded to 10,400 domestic violence related calls statewide, with more than 600 of the victims under the age of 18.

During the 2014 legislative session, the Office Against Interpersonal Violence (O.A.I.V.) was established by the legislature within the Mississippi State Department of Health (M.S.D.H.) The O.A.I.V. will play an essential role in M.S.D.H.’s efforts to reduce or eliminate domestic and sexual violence and other forms of intimate partner and interpersonal violence. The O.A.I.V. will emphasize efforts to prevent violence from occurring, while working with local communities and domestic violence shelters to create a coordinated response to violence by involving all levels of society – individuals, schools, churches, child welfare organizations, health care professional, and government officials.

Due to the impact on the overall health and well-being of its victims, domestic and intimate partner violence is now recognized as a health priority in Mississippi.

Domestic violence victims are likely to experience adverse health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal behavior, sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancies.

“Domestic violence is a serious concern in our communities,” says Heather Wagner, Director of the M.S.D.H. Office Against Interpersonal Violence, “Recognizing domestic violence as a serious societal problem is the first step. Education is the next step hopefully then leading to prevention. We would also like to bring special attention to interpersonal violence this month in recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and remind Mississippians that help is available.”

For more information about available help for domestic violence, visit http://HealthyMS.com/dv or call the domestic violence hotline: 1-800-898-3234 (601-981-9196).

Follow M.S.D.H. by e-mail and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.