Domestic violence
October is Domestic Violence Awareness and Mental Health Awareness Month, both of which go hand in hand.
The World Health Organization declared domestic violence as a worldwide “public health epidemic” which “afflicts more than one third of women globally,” while the National Institutes of Health concluded in 2019 it has a “significant effect on women’s mental health, underscoring the need to develop public health interventions.”
According to the NIH, domestic violence is “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women. The act of violence may occur in family, general community, or even being perpetrated and condoned by the state.”
Abuse is not only physical violence, but psychological and emotional violence that leaves permanent scars not seen by the world. For many victims, it is those scars that cut the most and are harder to heal, especially when they are not believed by friends, family or the court system. The trauma for a victim may manifest itself in ways that others do not understand due to the numerous mental health issues created by the abuse.
In my experience, this is part of the resistance in supporting domestic violence victims, especially in Hawaii’s judicial system. Services for the victim are not enough. Systemic healing of the family unit is crucial.
We know with COVID-19 that an infected individual will infect others, thus spreading the disease. We must view domestic violence this way. If a perpetrator is not treated and healed as well, then the family unit will continue to be infected and live with the disease, passing it on to others, even resulting in violent death for some.
In Hawaii, we can look to our host culture to heal and vaccinate our ohana from the scourge of domestic violence. Peace can come to our communities through methods like ho‘oponopono and unconditional love and aloha for our families, friends and neighbors.
Aloha starts at home, and I personally commit to and humbly ask of our leaders and our people to foster this foundational principal for a healthier, more vibrant community.
Shana Wailana Logan
Hilo
Slow down, please
Hey, humans, can you slow down (I’m talking cars and trucks)?
If you are possibly running late, then get up earlier. You might save your life, or some other human’s life, and not cause a very long line/stall on the highway.
Just kind of a pono way to operate!
If you work in far places, please just get up earlier and not threaten the rest of us!
For those of you who live on “country roads,” you get this double! No need to trash roads, run people off, and so on!
Michael Pacheco III
Ninole