The month of October is well-known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. However, it is also the designated month for Domestic Violence Awareness.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, about 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. When I first read this statistic, my heart dropped. I realized that every minute I am carelessly laughing with my friends or watching funny TikToks, there is someone suffering at the hands of someone they trust the most.

While I have been fortunate enough to not have experienced domestic violence myself or personally know anyone who has experienced it, I feel an obligation to spread awareness about the topic which affects so many individuals every day.

Last year, I was able to hold a Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness Vigil through the Women’s Empowerment Club, a club I founded. We had speakers share their stories of domestic violence and told those who attended various facts about domestic violence and provided resources they could use to learn more about the topic and spread awareness themselves.

It is sometimes difficult to feel inspired to spread awareness about a sensitive topic such as domestic violence. Being only 17-years-old, I continue to feel very limited in what I can do to make a difference. While I try to do all I can through the Women’s Empowerment Club, it is easy to get discouraged and feel like I’m not really making a difference.

However, one thing I have realized through my efforts is that any method of spreading awareness is valuable. Even just bringing attention to domestic violence by encouraging survivors to share their stories and speak out about their struggles is revolutionary.

Taking advantage of and using valuable resources to educate yourself and others on domestic violence can also make a difference.

The domestic violence hotline number is 800-799-7233. Simply sharing this number with your friends and those you know are struggling could save a life and pull someone out of a desperate situation.

The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence is an organization which helps domestic violence survivors by training social workers to positively help survivors, supplying police forces with strategies and tools they need to help victims and survivors, and connecting domestic violence support survivors with further resources they need to aid victims and survivors.

While this month is ending, don’t forget to continue to spread awareness and wear your purple ribbons all year long.