October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Local community service agencies, volunteer organizations and churches are joining the City of Marysville, Police Department and Fire District and Domestic Violence Services Snohomish County to help educate our community and let victims and families know that we care. 

We’re offering several ways to show your support for the #BreakTheSilence effort in Marysville: 

• Add our #BreakTheSilence custom frame to your Facebook profile photo. Download the frame at www.facebook.com/profilepicframes/?selected_overlay_id=366301675146053.
• Wear a purple shirt on Tuesdays in October and share your selfie on Facebook with the hashtag #BreakTheSilence. 
• Replace your porch light with a purple bulb or decorate your home or business with purple balloons or string lights. 
• Donate to help fund care kits for Marysville domestic violence victims at https://www.marysvillewa.gov/1007/Make-a-Donation. 
• Encourage a local business or public space to display a #BreakTheSilence poster during the month of October. You can pick up a poster at City Hall, 1049 State Ave., 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. 
• Share information and resources with a friend or neighbor who may be in an unsafe situation. 

For more information, please visit www.marysvillewa.gov/DomesticViolence. 

Community partners in Marysville’s #BreakTheSilence public awareness campaign:

• Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County
• City of Marysville
• Marysville Police Department
• Marysville Fire District
• The Center at North Marysville
• Soroptimist International of Marysville
• Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce
• Boys & Girls Club of Marysville
• Marysville Community Food Bank

More information

Domestic violence. It’s not a pretty topic but it’s an important one. Here in Marysville, Police respond to an average of 85 domestic violence calls every month. 

Abuse can take many forms. They all boil down to a person trying to gain control over a partner or family member. This certainly includes physical violence or forced sexual acts. Other examples of domestic violence may include psychological or emotional abuse (examples: name calling, insults, threats, humiliation) or social or environmental abuse (examples: controls major decisions and/or finances, limits your activities). Many other controlling behaviors fall within the spectrum of domestic violence. 

If you or someone you know is in an unsafe situation, it’s important to know that resources are available. Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County can help you create a safety plan, find a support group or counselor, and access legal information. Learn more at https://dvs-snoco.org/.