January 2023 is the 19th annual National Stalking Awareness Month.
Stalking, Prevention, Awareness and Resource Center (SPARC) reminds us that 92% of college age stalking survivors who seek help will seek help from family and/or friends. To help you help those who are surviving, we share these tips from SPARC:
- Believe and validate victims.
- Focus on the offender’s actions, not the victim’s responses.
- Support the victim and encourage them to seek help and document the stalking.
- Respect the victim’s privacy.
- Refer them to resources to make an individual safety plan and learn more about stalking.
- Check in with them and a be a source of support.
For additional details on supporting loved ones who are stalking survivors, check out the resources at https://www.stalkingawareness.org/for-friends-loved-ones/.
Know It. Name It. Stop It.