May is National Trauma Month
Thursday, May 26th, 2022 -- 8:17 AM
May is National Trauma Month, and The American Trauma Society and Aspirus Health is bringing attention to one of the most critical trauma topics affecting America: intimate partner violence.
About one in four women and one in 10 men have experienced IPV in the United States during their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
IPV is abuse or aggression that occurs in a romantic relationship and refers to both current and former spouses and/or dating partners. It is usually associated with physical harm; nearly 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner every minute in the U.S.
But IPV can include any of the following types of behavior:
- Physical violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking, or using another type of physical force;
- Sexual violence is forcing or attempting to force a partner to take part in a sex act, sexual touching, or a non-physical sexual event (i.e., sexting) when the partner does not or cannot consent;
- Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention and contact by a partner that causes fear or concern for one’s own safety or the safety of someone close to the victim;
- Psychological aggression is the use of verbal and non-verbal communication with the intent to harm another partner mentally or emotionally and/or to exert control over another partner.
Aspirus Health wishes to show its support for IPV survivors and their families to increase safety and lessen harms. The system provides examinations and treatment for anyone who has experienced sexual violence through its Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program located at several Aspirus hospitals, including Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital and Aspirus Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids.
The SANE Program includes emergency department nurses with special training in helping adolescent and adult survivors, as well as a team of trained caregivers.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.