May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. This month we are sharing information about how domestic violence impacts mental health.

Domestic violence is a serious problem in the United States, affecting nearly 10 million people each year. It encompasses intimate partner violence, refers to physical, sexual or psychological harm done to an individual by a current or former partner or spouse. Domestic violence is associated with a range of physical and mental health effects. More than one in three women, and one in four men, have experienced physical violence, rape or stalking victimization by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Domestic and family violence encompasses child abuse, intimate partner violence and elder abuse.

The effects of domestic violence have far-reaching implications, not only for the victim, but also for their family, friends or other loved ones who m ay be exposed or aware of the abuse. Abuse can affect the way we feel about ourselves, the way we take care for ourselves, and how we interact with others. Beyond that, domestic violence can also have a profound impact on our mental health and sometimes lead to serious and/or chronic mental health conditions.

Domestic violence affects mental health in several ways. It throws overboard a person’s mental imbalance. Also, it can lead to a situation of self-doubt and worthlessness in the victim. Such abuse significantly impacts the self-esteem and self-worth of the person it is inflicted upon. Living in an abusive relationship for an extended period under intimidation and humiliation deprives the person of a healthy atmosphere. Thus, it results in a variety of mental health problems such as anxiety to emotional disorders in the victim.

While its immediate impact can be visibly harrowing, the consequences of domestic violence on mental health often run deep and enduring. This section below covers the various adverse effects of domestic violence on mental health and how it can have severe negative consequences in a person’s life.