VOICE professionals talk domestic violence prevention with Cranberry’s South College students
CRANBERRY TWP — More than two dozen South College students gained information regarding domestic violence and human trafficking prevention during a campus presentation on Thursday afternoon.
Nicole Hyatt, a medical advocate and prevention educator with Butler County’s VOICE, spoke to students about the role of medical professionals and the impact they can make when placed into a real-life scenario in the workplace.
“They can really be a lifeline,” she said. “People are more likely to disclose more to them than they might other people. If we can start prevention with them, then it can really trickle down. They’re really in a position where they can help people out with their lives or notice things that maybe other people aren’t able to.”
In 2024, there were 106 deaths related to domestic violence in the state, according to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s annual fatality report. The organization also noted there have been more than 1,500 domestic violence-related deaths statewide over the last decade.
Organizations like VOICE not only support the survivors of those incidents, but also make an effort to provide community outreach to schools and workplaces.
In some cases, Hyatt said, the signs of domestic violence could easily be missed, making it critically important to provide the most updated information to those communicating with victims.
“In general, I think there’s been a lot of misconceptions on what it (domestic violence) is and what it looks like,” she said. “It’s not maybe the dramatized versions of what we’re seeing on television or what we’re seeing at the extreme end of the spectrum. Informing people is how we can see it and prevent it before it ever reaches that extreme point.”
For medical professionals, especially students who are just entering the workforce, Hyatt said it’s best to believe a “gut instinct” and to keep a line of “open conversation” going with someone who may be struggling.
“We truly don’t know what they’re going through, so let’s try and dive into that more,” she explained. “Let’s ask them, ‘Do you feel safe at home? Is there maybe something going on? Do you need someone to talk to?’ And then it’s about involving more people and building support so that we can get people the care that they may need.”
Meanwhile, for someone who is a victim of domestic violence, she said the best course of action would be to communicate their feelings and attitudes in more open settings with trustworthy people.
“If they’re not sure if they’re being abused, they should try reaching out and talking to someone, whether it’s a family member or a friend, and disclosing it to them and going from there,” Hyatt said. “They can also reach out to the bigger resources like VOICE and just talk to someone on the phone for 20 minutes or actually start our services.”
