Mayor Dave Roads recently signed a proclamation declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness month. During the coronavirus pandemic, domestic violence cases have increased. Melissa Iannuzzi with the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence says that the number of deaths related to domestic violence has increased in Indiana by 86% compared to this time last year. She said a big reason is due to the isolation. Domestic violence also isn’t just physical abuse. It can be emotional, verbal, or even financial. If you know someone who is in a domestic abuse situation, she advised making sure the person knows you’re there for them, because one of the survivor’s barriers to finding help may be their fear of judgment.
