COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – 2015 is the 20th anniversary year for Altrusa Teen Share and the Branch County Coalition against Domestic Violence is also celebrating 32 years of service to the county. The public is encouraged to help mark the occasions by attending a special open house Wednesday from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Community Health Center of Branch County Community Care and Conference Center.
One in three American women is or has been a victim of domestic violence. Nicole Greene of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says the issue affects women of all ages, races, ethnicities and socioeconomic groups. There are about 7 million women a year that are abused and one in five have been raped in their lifetime.
During this Domestic Violence Awareness Month Greene is urging abused women to seek medical attention. She says victims are more likely to report frequent headaches, chronic pain, insomnia, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease and substance abuse. Under the Affordable Care Act, domestic violence is no longer considered a pre-existing condition and is covered by health insurance. Greene says women shouldn’t put off seeing a doctor because they don’t have the money to pay for it.
