October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Penn State’s Gender Equity Center is one resource that may help students who are survivors.
Programming coordinator Jennifer Pencek is one of many staff members who work with survivors of domestic violence. Pencek provides classes and counseling for students who have survived domestic abuse.
She said it can be difficult to tell whether a close friend or loved one is a victim of domestic violence.
“Often times it does get physical, but relationship violence isn’t always physical abuse. It can also be verbal or emotional,” Pencek said.
Pencek said the best way to support a domestic abuse victim is to listen to their story.
“I think It’s really important that people believe what people are saying and if they can’t be that person that believes, then don’t be that person who makes the situation worse for them,” Pencek said.
For more information on how to help a domestic violence victim email genderequity@psu.edu or call 814-863-2027.
