Dec 02, 2020

Brighthouse: More domestic violence since COVID in 2020

Posted Dec 02, 2020 1:43 PM

By NICK GOSNELL

Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Brighthouse has some alarming numbers of the amount of persons they have served in 2020.

"Since January 1, Brighthouse alone has helped 657 people in our community," said Kaitlin Tucker. "That only counts the ones who come to us. There could be many more. Not everybody seeks help."

Brighthouse has helped with over 300 protection orders through November of this year and gone to court 140 times.

"Just since January 1, we've gone to the hospital for 12 sexual assaults," Tucker said. "Anytime someone reports a sexual assault at the hospital, they go for that exam, the nurses know to call us so we can send an advocate out there."

Tucker also notes that violence has gotten worse this year.

"They've been more severe cases of domestic violence, as well," Tucker said. "More aggravated domestic violence, which usually means that there's some attempted strangulation there and broken bones. The pandemic has really taken its toll on survivors in our community."

If you'd like to help, this week is the virtual Stuff The Bus fundraiser for Brighthouse.