Why Should We All Care About Domestic Violence?

When people hear the words domestic violence, they sometimes imagine it as something that happens behind closed doors - private, distant, and not connected to their own lives. It’s easy to think of it as “someone else’s problem,” something that only happens in troubled households or in faraway places. But domestic violence doesn’t discriminate - it affects people of every age, background, and neighborhood. 

The truth is that domestic violence is not just a private issue; it is a community issue. It spills out of homes and into every corner of society. It shows up in workplaces when employees miss work or lose jobs because of abuse. It shows up in schools when children struggle to concentrate, fall behind academically, or carry the weight of trauma into their friendships. It shows up in​ hospitals and clinics, where survivors seek care for injuries or the long-term health effects of stress and violence. It shows up in courtrooms and police stations, straining justice systems that are often already overwhelmed. 

Domestic violence doesn’t just harm the person being abused - it reshapes families, disrupts neighborhoods, and creates ripple effects that touch every one of us. And, most importantly, it takes lives. 
 
The Scope of the Problem 
The numbers tell a sobering story. In Georgia alone, there were 42,184 reported incidents of family violence in 2024 - a 12% increase from the previous year1. Over one-third of these incidents ended in an arrest, and nearly 70% of the victims were women. Even more troubling, nearly one in three incidents occurred in front of a child. 

These children are not just witnesses; they carry the trauma with them, shaping how they grow, learn, and relate to others. What happens inside one home can echo through an entire generation. 

On a national level, 41% of women and 26% of men have experienced intimate partner violence involving physical harm, sexual violence, or stalking. In other words, if you look around your workplace, your faith community, or your group of friends, chances are someone you know has lived through this. 
 
The Deadly Consequences 
Domestic violence is not only about control and abuse, but it can also be deadly. In Georgia, 159 people lost their lives to domestic violence in 2024, including 84 in murder-suicide incidents. Nationally, about 1 in 5 homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner, and every single day, on average, someone in the U.S. kills their partner and then themselves. 

Behind each statistic is a person who was loved, valued, and deserved safety. Their stories remind us that the cost of silence is far too high. 
 
The Ripple Effects 
The effects of domestic violence extend far beyond any single household. Employers lose valuable employees to the cycle of abuse, either through lost productivity, frequent absences, or even workplace violence. Children exposed to abuse are more likely to experience mental health struggles, lower academic performance, and challenges in forming healthy relationships later in life. Healthcare providers see the long-term physical and psychological toll every day in exam rooms and emergency departments. 
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When one person’s safety is compromised, the well-being of the entire community is shaken. When a community ignores domestic violence, it pays the price in broken families, strained systems, and lost potential. 
 
Why You Should Care 
You don’t need to be a victim to care about domestic violence. You don’t even need to know someone personally affected, though the odds are that you do. You should care because this issue reaches every part of our shared lives: 

• It affects public safety. Domestic violence incidents make up a significant portion of police calls. Many mass shootings and murder-suicides are rooted in family violence. 

• It affects the economy. Survivors often miss work, face housing instability, or struggle financially due to the abuse. This translates into billions of dollars in lost productivity and healthcare costs nationally. 

• It affects children. Growing up in a home where abuse happens changes how children see themselves and the world. Breaking that cycle is the only way to build safer, healthier futures. 

• It affects our shared humanity. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home. When that basic right is stolen, we all have a responsibility to respond. 

• It affects the future. Every step we take to prevent violence today creates a safer, stronger community for the next generation. 

 
How You Can Help 
You have more power than you think. Caring is the first step. The second step is action. Here are some meaningful ways you can make a difference: 

• Learn the warning signs. Isolation, excessive jealousy, financial control, and sudden changes in behavior can all point to abuse. 

• Support survivors. Believe them. Offer resources instead of judgment. 

• Advocate. Support policies and programs that protect victims and hold abusers accountable. 

• Spread awareness. Conversations about domestic violence should not be whispered or hidden—they should be open, informed, and compassionate.​

Even small acts of support can change the course of someone’s life. 
 
A Call to Community 
Domestic violence thrives in silence, but it weakens when communities stand together. Every statistic represents a story, and every story deserves to be heard. By caring, speaking up, and supporting change, you become part of the solution. 

If you need support, please call our 24/7 Crisis Hotline at 706-387-0100 to speak with a trained advocate who can help you explore your options and connect you with local resources.

You can also reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting “START” to 88788 for additional support and information.

Remember, domestic violence is not someone else’s problem, it’s everyone’s problem. ​

† Georgia Commission on Family Violence. (2025). Georgia Family Violence Statistics and Trends: 2025 Annual Fact Sheet. Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. https://gcfv.georgia.gov