How Can a Domestic Violence Crisis Hotline Help Victims?
A domestic violence crisis hotline is a phone number which is local to a region, or toll-free to cover a large region. Staff are constantly available so that victims of domestic violence can call the domestic violence crisis hotline at any time, not just an emergency situation, and receive assistance. In addition to victims, a domestic violence crisis hotline can also assist people who suspect that someone they know is a victim, and the hotline frequently maintains physical offices which offer drop in counseling and other services. The primary form of assistance offered by a domestic violence crisis hotline is a person to listen to the victim with empathy and compassion, and to offer advice and counseling if it is requested. For panicked victims, the knowledge that they can call just to talk to someone is very important. Staff train as crisis counselors with a certifying organization, and they usually also have a large binder of information ready to hand so that they can assist callers
