Mental Health and Domestic Violence

On average, more than half of the women seen in mental health settings have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). Victim survivors of IPV are often diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and/or anxiety; those who do not receive a formal diagnosis may still experience difficulties with productivity, caregiving, engaging in healthy relationships, adapting to change, or coping with adversity. [2].

• Compared to women with no mental health disorders, measured over their adult life, women with depressive disorders were around 2.5 times more likely to have been victims of domestic violence.

• This figure was over 3.5 times higher for women with anxiety disorders

• For women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the chances of having experienced domestic violence were seven times higher than women who do not have PTSD [3].

“A victim-survivor’s mental health can also be weaponized and used as another form of violence and harm. Mental health coercion is a commonly used tactic that is targeted toward the victim-survivor’s mental health as part of a broader pattern of abuse and control and includes: deliberately attempting to undermine a survivor’s sanity, preventing a survivor from accessing treatment, controlling a survivor’s medication, using a survivor’s mental [health state] to discredit them with sources of protection, support, to manipulate the police or influence child custody decisions, or engaging mental health stigma to make a survivor think no one will believe them. Other common tactics that target mental health include other forms of emotional abuse, especially gaslighting" [2]. 

The trauma caused by domestic violence doesn’t only affect mental health, it can also cause somatic (bodily) symptoms and conditions, such as: chronic pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, digestive issues, and chronic fatigue.

Mental Health Activities

Dopamine Menu

The “Dopamine Menu” is a new social media trend that encourages viewers to reflect on their own personal reward system and decide what healthier coping mechanisms are most engaging for them. Dopamine is the “feel-good” hormone associated with the feeling of pleasure, and/or the motivation to seek out pleasure. This activity is commonly used by neurodivergent content creators, as ADHD and dopamine-deficiency are linked [1].

When you make your own Dopamine Menu, you make a list of enjoyable activities divided into “courses” to stimulate the release of dopamine in the brain. Your menu serves as a way to provide alternative sources of pleasure to doom-scrolling, binge-watching, and/or substance use.

Grounding Kits

Grounding is a practice that helps you reconnect with the present moment and get back into your body, particularly when you are experiencing anxiety, distress or dissociation. Grounding encourages you to reconnect with your physical senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch.

You can put together a “grounding bag” (a bag full of items that can help you stimulate your senses) to carry around with you, keep at home, or your workplace. This activity can be done by children, teens, and adults!

What might go into your grounding bag?

We are so thrilled to announce our new community partner: Taylor’d Cosmetology School!

Taylor'd Cosmetology School is an ethnic-focused cosmetology school located in North Minneapolis, Minnesota. They teach their students to the Board Of Minnesota’s licensing standards, prioritizing an added emphasis on ethnic hair, skin & nails.

If you’re looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, look no further! Taylor’d provides the following pampering services at extremely affordable costs: facials, makeup, lash/brow tinting, brow lamination, eyelash extensions, and waxing!

For every $40 gift card purchased, $5 will go back to DAP, allowing us to continue to provide vital care to the mothers enrolled in our programs. On top of this, Taylor’d will also be providing a free makeup session to 12 mothers enrolled in our programming as a special Mother’s Day gift.

If you’d like to gift the special mother in your life a day of pampering, while also helping families in your community who are impacted by domestic violence, contact Taylor’d directly at (612) 315-2966, or Info@taylordcosmo.com and mention DAP!

Why DOJ Cuts to Mental Health Services Are a Costly Loss

LAST WEEK - In a devastating move, the U.S. Department of Justice slashed $811 million in funding for victim services, including some that supported high-impact intervention programs meant to help juvenile offenders change their violent behavior before it escalates.

To be clear: the loss of this funding shifts the burden onto taxpayers who will pay exponentially more to attend to these youths later. Let me explain why, using DAP’s own juvenile intervention and prevention therapy program, which we call “TAY,” as an example.

TAY is a group psychotherapy program for 18-24 year olds who are referred to DAP by their juvenile probation officers. Over 24 weeks, our clinicians help these young people accept responsibility for their actions and learn healthy ways to manage their anger; plus, we bring in safe, supportive adults from the young person’s own life who can serve to encourage non-violence long-term. Though we’re always working to improve our curriculum, the evidence suggests 98% of those who complete TAY don’t reoffend for a full calendar year.

A session of TAY costs around $500 per person. Now, compare that to the $500,000 it costs taxpayers to detain and incarcerate a single juvenile for a single year.

The math is undeniable: our country cannot afford to lose intervention programs.

What’s worse, it appears some of the funding that was cut by the DOJ this week never even relied on taxpayer money. Thanks to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), many DOJ grants are funded by fines levied on offenders—making these cuts all the more irrational.

About 5% of DAP’s funding comes from VOCA-mandated fines against offenders. We use that money to provide trauma therapy for abuse survivors and early childhood therapy for kids who witnessed or experienced violence. These programs are not a tax burden and they’re not charity. They’re an economically sound investment in public safety and the dignity of Minnesota’s families – paid for by individuals convicted of federal crimes.

What Minnesota’s DV Nonprofits Need Now:

1. Amplification of this issue so Members of Congress know these programs are valuable to us all and will take a stand against further cuts.

2. Immediate funding to secure programming in the wake of existing - and ongoing – reductions.

   
   

Where our justice system has failed, we hope the private sector might step in. It would be an absolute tragedy to wait until someone’s life is lost or someone’s child is locked away for a preventable offense before we do something as a community to protect programs that work.

If you’re able to contribute, please donate now.

MMBWG Day on Capitol Hill

DAP Night at the St. Paul Saints Game!

We knocked it out of the park at DAP Night at the Saints! This year, we were able to raise over $700! We are so grateful for the outpour of support, not only from the public, but from the Saints’ Staff and their awesome mascots!

It felt so special to educate a new group of folks on what DAP does for the community, all while celebrating a Saints victory! And of course, Nina, Betsy, Amirthini, and Val got to enjoy some delicious concessions, family fun, and the fantastic firework show!

Missed the game and still want to support DAP? Now’s your chance—text HEALING2025 to 53-555, or donate using the button below! Thank you for your generosity in supporting families who are healing from domestic violence!

Interested in supporting our work? Click the link below.