October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and organizations in Dona Ana County are working to raise awareness.
Silent Witnesses memorialized victims of Domestic Violence in Dona Ana County at a Candlelight Vigil organized by La Casa, Executive Director Theresa Armendariz says its events like this that help people understand the domestic violence problem.
“Our main goal is awareness,” Armendariz said. “We want to honor the people that have lost family members, loved ones to domestic violence. We want to educate the community on, we’re here this is a really important issue, and what we can offer for it.”
Armendariz says Dona Ana County has the second highest rate of Domestic Violence in New Mexico. She says there are many reasons people don’t report domestic violence.
“One of the biggest barriers is fear definitely,” Armendariz said. “Economic barriers are also really huge. When you don’t have control of your money, or you haven’t worked in years and you don’t have skills to go out in the workplace and care for your family. Or if you have children maybe that don’t want to leave, and you have to consider what there needs are as well. There’s a lot of barriers. We live very close to the border, so there is a lot of immigration barriers to consider as well.”
Armendariz says it’s important for the whole community to understand some of the problems people with Domestic Violence could be facing.
“It’s really important to understand some of the dynamics the victims are going through,” Armendariz said. “So that you don’t victimize them with comments like why didn’t you just leave, or what did you do to make somebody so angry. Those kind of comments can be really hurtful, and can be something that creates a situation where a victim doesn’t want to reach out for help.”
Armendariz says if you or someone you know is experiencing Domestic Violence, La Casa can help with services.
“They can come, they can walk into La Casa without an appointment,” Armendariz said. “Or they can call our hotline at 575-526-9513. They can talk to someone anonymously; they don’t have to say who they are. They don’t have to give all their information. They can call for just to talk and see is this really happening to me, what are my options, what do I want to do. They don’t really have to make any moves just to come talk to us.”
For more information visit LaCasaInc.org.
