ROCHESTER, N.Y. — October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It's a time when advocates work to educate the public and remind victims where they can get help.

What You Need To Know

  • October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time when advocates work to educate the public and remind victims where they can get help

  • The most recent numbers show a shift in the domestic violence statistics trends

  • If you are in imminent danger, call 911

  • For help, you can call the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline at 800-942-6906 or text 844-997-2121 or Chat at OPDV.NY.GOV

Each year at the start of this month, Willow Domestic Violence Center issues a report showing the trends in the domestic violence statistics.

The most recent numbers show a shift in the trends.

That information was relayed on Tuesday to a room filled with people who want to make a difference in the continued problem of domestic violence.

That includes domestic violence survivor, Kesha Carter.

“The opportunity to educate individuals who may not have experienced something like this, and thankfully they didn't, right?" Carter said. "And so that they can be supports to other people."

Living a happy, healthy and safe life now, Carter attended the Domestic Violence Consortium, joining organizations, leaders, advocates, other survivors and more to continue the effort to raise awareness.

“To give that voice to folks who have experienced, like myself, to folks who have experienced domestic violence in some kind of way," Carter said. "To have that voice and to let folks know that, what they may think, what has been stigmatized, the stereotypes that they may have thought about, that's not who we are. And that that we are living and thriving professionals who have so much to give as well."

The Monroe County Domestic Violence Report for 2023 shows a new trend, stating calls to 911 are down, but calls to the agency’s hotline are up.

“We are seeing an increase in the need for court advocacy and for the remote orders of protection," said Willow Domestic Violence Center’s President and CEO Meaghan Chateauvieux. "So people are going to court in staggering numbers. Our program over at the court Hall of Justice is seeing so many more people than we have in prior years, and they are issuing more orders of protection.

“So people are accessing the system and accessing what they need in different ways than they have in prior years, so we’re seeing a shift in the way survivors are coming forward and who they’re reaching out to for support,” said Chateauvieux.

Survivors like Carter are telling their stories with the hope it will inspire victims to leave their abuser and to educate those around them on ways they can help.

“It was physical abuse," Carter said. "And, you know, I went through times where I was covering black eyes and thinking that nobody knew that this was makeup on and everybody knew. And having some folks that I thought were friends tell jokes about me behind my back and, having those same friends who I thought were friends at that time tell me things like, if I don't leave, they're going to stop talking to me. Well, isolation is where it thrives in isolation.”

Carter says the effort needs to continue beyond October.

“We can't just have the conversations during this one month," Carter said. "We have to have education all year long.”

If you are in imminent danger, call 911. For help, you can call the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline at 800-942-6906 or text 844-997-2121 or Chat at OPDV.NY.GOV

The Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence says domestic violence impacts over 80,000 New Yorkers each year.