October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM)—a time to come together and build a campus where everyone feels safe, respected and supported.

Why it matters

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1 in 2 women and 2 in 5 men in the U.S. have experienced physical violence from an intimate partner. These numbers show how important it is to talk about healthy relationships and how to support one another.

Domestic violence is a much broader issue than most people realize—it can include emotional, psychological, sexual, physical or financial abuse. It can affect anyone, regardless of gender, and isn’t limited to physical harm or romantic relationships.

On a college campus, domestic violence can also appear as dating violence, stalking or digital abuse, such as controlling text messages or threats made over social media.

What we’re doing

This year’s DVAM theme, #CallForUnity, invites everyone to take part in creating a compassionate community that stands against abuse and supports survivors.

Throughout October, the Center for Campus Wellness is teaming up with departments across campus to host events, workshops and learning opportunities to help you recognize signs of harm, learn how to help a friend and foster healthy, respectful relationships.

See the event lineup here.

Student perspective

Peer Well-being Ambassador, Laura Chan, shares why she’s taking action with this campaign in a recent blog post.

“Our intuition is often our first alarm bell, nudging us when things aren’t right—whether in relationships, friendships or even in our own sense of safety. I’ve learned that listening to that inner voice isn’t just about self-preservation; it’s about honoring our worth and validating our feelings, even when others might dismiss them. Working on this campaign, I’ve learned to appreciate how raising awareness helps people come forward and feel empowered to share their own stories, without any guilt, shame or isolation.”

Additional ways to get involved

Through collaboration, the Center for Campus Wellness is dedicated to strengthening student well-being and creating positive change at the individual, interpersonal and institutional levels. But we can’t do it alone. Departments interested in partnering for DVAM can contact wellnessattheu@utah.edu for more information.