Coping, Trauma, & Deaf Survivors
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence and trauma deeply affect our communities. Research shows deaf women are twice as likely to experience domestic violence than hearing women. Nearly half of domestic violence situations involve alcohol use – and many domestic violence survivors turn to alcohol to cope with their trauma. Survivors are not to blame, and their experiences are always valid.
There are several resources available for our deaf communities. Professionals and organizations are encouraged to share these resources with clients, colleagues, and networks to raise awareness and ensure access to support:
1. The DeafYES! Center for Empowerment & Recovery can support Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing survivors. They are conducting a study for survivors who are experiencing trauma-related stress and alcohol use. Interested individuals can contact signsofsafety@umassmed.edu for more information about the study.
2. The National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline - call 855-812-1001 or email nationaldeafhotline@adwas.org.
3. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - call or text 988.
Stay Informed in ASL: We’ve got you covered! Sign up with your email at deafhealthaccess.org/sign-up or follow us on social media for new and current health updates.
Video Description & Transcript
[VD: The video thumbnail features a text bubble in the center that reads ‘Coping, Trauma, & Deaf Survivors’ in white text on a rose-colored background. In the video, a white nonbinary person (Bee) is signing to the camera. Bee has brown curly hair worn down, and is wearing black pants, a black turtleneck, and two gold chain necklaces. The screen fades to show a thumbnail of a faded white background of a doctor holding hands with another individual. Text: Deaf. Healthy. DeafHealth. Learn more at www.deafhealthaccess.org.
Transcript: Domestic violence and trauma are serious. Research shows deaf women are twice as likely to experience domestic violence than hearing women. Nearly half of domestic violence situations involve alcohol use. Many domestic violence survivors turn to alcohol to cope with their trauma. Survivors are not to blame. Every survivor’s experience is valid. If you or someone you know needs support:
1. The DeafYES! Center for Empowerment & Recovery (TAG) can support Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing survivors. They are conducting a study for survivors who are experiencing trauma-related stress and alcohol use. Interested individuals can contact signsofsafety@umassmed.edu for more information about the study.
2. The National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline
3. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
You matter, and you are not alone.]