Each year during October, the Department of Defense takes part in the national observance to raise awareness of domestic violence through a service-wide Domestic Violence Prevention Month campaign. The 2019 Domestic Violence Prevention Month campaign is designed to help service members, military spouses and intimate partners build safer relationships, prevent domestic abuse, and access support. The 2019 campaign, “Mobilize Help for Safer Relationships,” introduces the military community to technology-facilitated abuse in relationships. Technology-facilitated abuse is the use of technologies such as texting and posting on social media to bully, harass, stalk or intimidate a spouse or partner. It also includes monitoring and stalking behaviors whereby one partner “keeps tabs” on the other’s location, activities, and communications with friends and family outside the relationship through apps and malware. The materials in this campaign provide tips for individuals to set healthy boundaries on technology use in their relationships, protect their privacy online, and get help for domestic abuse, whether it happens online, in person or both.

If you are sponsoring or contributing to this campaign in your community, please reference and download the 2019 Domestic Violence Prevention Month Messaging and Resources one-pager. Be sure to check the Military One Source website, Twitter and Facebook pages throughout the month of October for additional resources.

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Technology can be a tool for empowerment and connection, but it can also be misused in relationships to control or abuse another person. During October, share these messages and resources with your community, friends, and family. You never know who may need information on how to make a report or how to get immediate help.

  • Get help now: Help is always available. If you are feeling unsafe in your relationship and would like to learn about your reporting options, download the Reporting Options poster on Military OneSource. Immediate support is also available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or thehotline.org.

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