• How abuse harms survivors' mental health
• Why trauma-informed support is critical for healing
• What you can do to help: Urgent need for weighted care items

Abuse Has Lasting Impacts on Survivors' Mental Health

Intimate partner violence — and its impacts — are not just physical. Abuse occurs in many forms, all of which cause lasting harm to survivors' mental health. Furthermore, leaving an abusive relationship does not automatically mean the abuse ends, especially for survivors whose abusive partners stalk them, and for survivors who continue to co-parent their child(ren) with their abusive partners.

As a result, according to The National Domestic Violence Hotline, survivors are:

• 3 times as likely to meet the criteria for PTSD
• 2 times more likely to develop symptoms of depression and 3 times more likely to develop a major depressive order
• 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder
• 3 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts and 4 times more likely to attempt suicide

Trauma-Informed Support Helps Survivors Heal

"Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a form of trauma that can result in significant mental health distress for victims," the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health reports.

"While there are numerous interventions designed to reduce trauma-induced mental health symptoms, most were originally developed to address events that have occurred in the past (e.g., combat, childhood sexual abuse). Many IPV survivors are still under threat of ongoing abuse or stalking, which not only directly impacts their physical and psychological safety but impacts treatment options, as well."

How You Can Help: Shop Our Wishlist to Support Survivors' Mental Health!

We are in high need of gender-neutral weighted plushies for adults, and weighted blankets for children. Shop through our wish list to ship these items directly to Doorways today!

Benefits of these weighted comfort items including helping to calm survivors' nervous systems, reduce stress, improve sleep, and provide comfort. Thank you for supporting survivors' healing, mental health, and wellbeing!