October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), and domestic violence continues to be a profound and pervasive social and public health crisis, crossing lines of class, race, ethnicity and sexuality. Each year, 10 million people in the U.S. experience domestic violence. There are many forms of domestic abuse which can be verbal, emotional and/or physical.

This Thursday, Oct. 19, we invite you to participate in National Wear Purple Day. Wear purple to show your support for survivors of domestic/dating violence and bring awareness so intimate partner violence will end! When you wear purple you are showing not only your friends and family that you are a safe and supportive person, but to the world that you stand behind ending domestic violence. To show your support, post a picture of yourself wearing purple using #PurpleThursday, tag @FSHealthCenter and @marjareemasoncenter.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic/dating violence, contact Fresno County local hotline, the Marjaree Mason Center, at 559.233.4357 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800.799. 7233. Fresno State students, staff, and faculty can also contact Campus Confidential Survivor Advocacy Services at 559.278.6896 or survivoradvocate@csufresno.edu.

You can also request training for your class, office or department.

Additional information on campus resources and options can be found a on the Survivor Advocacy Services website.