The National Domestic Violence Hotline, based here in Austin, says it typically sees a drop in calls, texts and chats during the holiday season and a spike just after the New Year. The decline in outreach may be due to a lower number of incidences or the simple fact that both men and women are motivated to keep their families intact during the holidays.
In 2013, there were than 636,404 visits to the Hotline website, an increase of 27% from the previous year. The Hotline provides online resources, secure online chat, support by phone at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) and support for deaf clients by videophone (855-812-1001), instant messenger (DeafHotline) or email (deafhelp@thehotline.org). Get help if you need it.
A former client, Deborah Petersen, shares her experience. “I found myself in the car, leaving town to stay with family, and I picked up the phone and called The Hotline. What I got from talking to them on the phone that day was a level of understanding I had never had before, a level that my friends and family couldn’t provide. They understood exactly where I was and what I was going through — as opposed to being on the outside looking in.”
The Hotline is also accepts donations. For more information, visit the Hotline giving page.
