This month, we hope to raise awareness about domestic violence, unmask domestic abuse and talk about preventing it.

Domestic violence affects more than 12 million people in the United States each year, according to The National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the “Day of Unity” held in October 1981 and conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became an entire week devoted to a range of activities conducted at the local, state, and national level.

In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year marks the initiation of the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline. In 1989, the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

STOP Domestic Violence is a New York state certified program assisting victims of domestic violence, 24 hours a day. The main office is located in Plattsburgh with a satellite office in Malone and Tupper Lake as well as Westport. The 24-hour hotline is 1-888-563-6904.

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10 statistics about domestic abuse

1. About 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)

2. 33 percent of women and 25 percent of men have been the victim of physical violence by an intimate partner at some point within their lifetime. (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)

3. The number of American troops that were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2001-2012 was 6,488. The number of American women who were murdered by a current of former male partner during that time was 11,766. (Huffington Post)

4. Women are 5.5 times more likely to be the victim of domestic abuse compared to men. (Huffington Post)

5. 1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point where the victim felt fearful or believed that someone close to them would be harmed or killed. (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)

6. The presence of a gun during a domestic abuse incident increases the risk of a homicide occurring by 500 percent. (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)

7. 19 percent of domestic violence involves a weapon of some sort. (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)

8. Only 1 in 3 people who are injured by an intimate partner during an incident of domestic abuse will receive medical care for their injuries. (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)

9. Three women are murdered every day, on average, by a current or former male partner in the United States. (Huffington Post)

10. On the average day in the United States, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines across the country. (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)