Domestic violence victims are being encouraged to draw a simple black dot on the palm of their hands to alert others to their situation.
The Black Dot Campaign started on Facebook earlier this month, and according to its profile page, has already reached 4.8 million people around the world.
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On their Facebook page, they share an example of how it helped someone who was suffering:
*Trigger* I have a story to share that someone has sent me since I started this campaign, it moved me so much I asked to...
Posted by Black Dot Campaign on Thursday, 10 September 2015
While the Black Dot Campaign is growing, this strategy is not currently recognized by all hospitals, community centers, or doctors. This important detail was explained on 14 September 2015 when the Black Dot Campaign posted an “Important Notice” on Facebook:
The original ethos for this campaign was to enable a victim to put a dot on their hand around someone they trusted to enable a conversation to start, so they could open that door and hopefully start a process of seeking professional help.
This is an idea, thinking outside of the box, trying to open up the worlds eyes and ears to what is going on in terms of abuse. The idea came from a former domestic violence victim.
Professional bodies have not been advised or trained in the Black Dot, what it symbolises and what it means
When people contact us we open the gates of communication and put them in touch with...... people who can really help
Putting such a campaign on Facebook was about raising awareness on a social media platform
This isn’t the solution that will help everyone, if anything it should help people realise what abuse is, how it affects people and how to access help.
and most importantly SAFETY MUST ALWAYS COME FIRST. If you see a black dot or are approached by someone for help, if safe to do so take them to safety and get them in contact with the relevant agency. Intervention and support should only be done by professionals.