Domestic Violence is a major issue in the U.S. and around the world, and many nonprofit organizations work tirelessly to provide critical support and services to survivors. Every year, more than 10 million men and women in the U.S. are subjected to Domestic Violence. Its impact can be felt far and wide. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
Domestic violence survivors can face ongoing and challenging effects after enduring physical, mental, and emotional abuse. It can take time for a survivor to adjust to living in a safe environment, especially if a perpetrator was severely violent and/or committed the actions over an extended period of time.
The Most Common Mental effects of Domestic Violence Include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts
- Depression, including prolonged sadness
- Anxiety
- Low self-esteem and questioning sense of self
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts.
The Body Sculpt 360° Safe House of Beauty helps survivors of domestic violence overcome the mental effects they've endured by offering free makeovers that have been sponsored by anonymous sponsors and sponsors within local and surrounding communities.
Our program is designed to uplift, increase self-esteem, and self worth. Because of this, survivors must be no longer reside with, or be with their abuser, and have made a concious decision not to return.
Due to limited sponsorship all surviving candidates must submit proof of abuse and relocation away from their abuser.
• Police reports and abuser's arrest records. If you ever called the police on your abuser based on domestic violence or other violence at your house or against your property, a report was likely made, and you can request a copy of it. You might, however, have to show an identity document; provide information about the abuser, such as name and birthdate; and remember the approximate date of the incident.
• Police statements. Officers who visited you relatively recently because of a domestic violence call might be willing to write up a declaration or statement about what they saw. This will likely contain more useful detail than a police report.
• Court orders (restraining, stay away, or protection). If you were able to get a court order stating that your abuser was to stay away from you, this is excellent evidence of abuse. By providing some personal information, you should be able to obtain a copy. Or, if a lawyer helped you obtain that order, ask the lawyer's office for a copy.
• Declaration from psychiatrist or therapist. Your mental health professional might be able to write a summary statement about issues that you have discussed around the abuse, your marriage or other relationship with the abuser, stress that you were under because of your family situation, the consistency of your statements and symptoms with that of abuse victims in general, and so forth.
• Declaration from shelter staff. If you were ever in a shelter and got to know any staff people or volunteers at the shelter particularly well, and they would remember you or details of your case, you might want to ask them to write up a declaration discussing this.
• Declaration from pastor or religious leader. If you ever sought advice about the abuse from a priest, minister, rabbi, or other person from your faith community, that person might be willing to write up a declaration detailing your conversations.
Surviving candidates may send an email to shob@bodysculpt360.com to apply.
Sponsors may send an email to shob_sponsors@bodysculpt360.com for more information on how to sponsor a makeover for a survivor of domestic violence.
