Every October, you may notice more purple than usual. A ribbon on a coworker’s bag, a porch light, a post from someone you follow. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the United States, a time set aside to talk honestly about something that often stays hidden, and to remind people who are hurting that they are not alone. We want to spend a little time here on what the month is, why purple, and the small, real ways any of us can help.
What the month is, and why it matters
Domestic Violence Awareness Month grew out of a simple, stubborn belief: that silence protects harm, and that talking openly can save lives. Abuse is not always visible. It can be physical, but it can also be emotional, financial, or controlling in quieter ways that are hard to name and harder to explain to others. Survivors come from every kind of household, every income, every background. The point of October is not to frighten anyone. It is to make the subject speakable, so that people who need help feel a little safer reaching for it, and so the rest of us learn how to be the kind of person someone could turn to.
Why purple
Purple has long been the color associated with this cause, worn on ribbons, clothing, and lapel pins throughout the month. During October there is also a recognized awareness day often called Purple Thursday, when people are encouraged to wear purple together as a visible sign of support. The color itself is a small thing. What it carries is bigger: a quiet signal that says you believe survivors, that you are paying attention, and that you are willing to be part of the conversation. Sometimes a person who feels invisible just needs one sign that someone, somewhere, would understand.
How to actually help
Awareness only matters if it turns into something real. Here are honest, doable ways to help, this month and beyond.
Learn the signs. Read about what abuse can look like, including the forms that leave no bruises. Understanding the patterns helps you notice when something is wrong, and keeps you from minimizing what a friend might be trying to tell you.
Listen without judgment. If someone confides in you, you do not need the perfect words. Believe them, thank them for trusting you, and let them lead. Avoid pressuring anyone to leave or to act on your timeline. Leaving can be the most dangerous moment, and the choice has to stay with the person living it.
Support a local shelter. Donate, volunteer, or give needed supplies to a domestic violence shelter or survivor-serving organization near you. These groups do steady, unglamorous work all year, and they almost always need more hands and more resources than they have.
Share resources. Keep the crisis numbers handy and pass them along when they are needed. A saved hotline number in a phone can matter more than any speech.
Check in on the people you love. Not as an interrogation, just a real question and a real willingness to listen. You can learn more about how our giving works if you would like to support this cause through a purchase as well.
Supporting survivors all year, not just in October
October is a useful spotlight, but abuse does not follow a calendar, and neither does recovery. Shelters operate in every season. Survivors rebuild their lives over months and years, not weeks. The most meaningful kind of support is the kind that keeps showing up when the purple ribbons come down. That can look like a recurring donation, ongoing volunteer hours, or simply staying a safe, steady person in someone’s life. It is also part of why stillnus gives a portion of every purchase to Laura’s House, a domestic violence resource center, year round and not only in October, so that choosing something handmade can quietly support survivors through every season. If you like the idea of buying with that in mind, you can browse our gifts that give back.
If you or someone you know needs help
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support any time, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233, and you can also text START to 88788. If you are in emotional crisis or worried about someone’s safety, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988. You do not have to have the right words or be sure of anything to reach out. These lines are there for questions, too.
Common questions
When is Domestic Violence Awareness Month?
It is observed every October in the United States. Many awareness activities happen throughout the month, including a recognized day often called Purple Thursday, when people wear purple in support.
Why is purple the color for domestic violence awareness?
Purple is the color long associated with this cause and is worn on ribbons, clothing, and pins to show support for survivors and to keep the conversation visible.
What is the best way to help if I do not have much money to give?
Plenty of meaningful help costs nothing. Learn the signs, listen without judgment when someone confides in you, share crisis resources, volunteer at a local shelter, and check in honestly on the people in your life.
What should I do if I think a friend is being abused?
Lead with care, not pressure. Let them know you are there, believe what they tell you, and keep the crisis resources on hand. Avoid pushing them to act before they are ready, and respect that the decisions are theirs to make.
Where can someone get immediate, confidential help?
Call 911 for immediate danger. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is at 1-800-799-7233, with text support by texting START to 88788. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is reachable by call or text at 988.
A portion of every stillnus purchase supports Laura’s House, a domestic violence resource center.
