October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and it is now becoming a bigger talking point than ever before. More than 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and more than 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the United States have experienced physical violence, rape, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Most often, these survivors were abused by someone they knew. With these shocking statistics in mind, many people may think that it's hard to help a survivor of domestic violence. While it may seem like the most difficult thing to do since domestic violence is such a difficult thing to deal with, there are still simple and little ways you can help a survivor of domestic violence.

Being supportive and being there for a survivor is one of the best things you can do for a survivor. But remember that some things can be more hurtful than helpful. For example, saying "I told you so" or assuming they will leave immediately is one of the least supportive things anyone can do to a domestic violence survivor. Sometimes, survivors are in situations where they can't leave their partner, and they know they made a mistake by trusting their partner, so saying anything along these lines is the last thing a survivor wants to hear from a friend.

One of the healthiest things you can do for a survivor is to NOT get involved in the middle of the situation. Some examples of this include contacting the survivor's ex and bashing the survivor because they allowed their ex to drop by and speak their peace. This can instil more fear on the survivor, and abusers impose fear on their victims so they can feel powerful. They will not hesitate to hurt you too if you attempt to get in the middle of the situation. One of the safest things you can do is to report it to an authority figure; it can save the survivor's life.

Probably the most important things you can do to help a domestic violence survivor is to promote their physical and mental health. Their physical and mental well-being will not be the best when they are in the middle of an abusive relationship, so encourage them to surround themselves with people that love and care about them and fill their schedule with activities they love doing. This will help them realize that they are worth it and they are absolutely worthy of the love they deserve to have.

When a domestic violence survivor reaches out to you and tells their story directly to you, it means that they trust you enough to validate their story and help them through their healing process. With some of these tips, your friend will thank you that you were able to help them during one of the toughest times of their lives. Remember to keep all of this in mind when a friend of yours tells your their abuse story directly and in detail. It will make one of the biggest differences.