The Church recently released a new website with valuable resources to help victims of abuse and those who love them know how to report abuse, seek help, and find healing.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published a new website today aimed at providing help, healing, and protection for victims of abuse and those who want to help prevent abuse.
The release of abuse.lds.org is timely: October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and worldwide statistics like the following from the World Health Organization are sobering:
- Twelve percent of children were sexually abused this past year.
- An estimated one in three women experience physical and/or sexual abuse at some point in their life.
- Youth violence is the fourth-leading cause of death in young people worldwide.
- One in four adults were physically abused as children.
- Sixteen percent of people aged 60 years and older were abused in 2017.
According to the handbook for Church leaders, “The Church’s position is that abuse cannot be tolerated in any form” (Handbook 1: Stake Presidents and Bishops [2010], 17.3.2). . . .
According to Travis Baer, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and program manager for LDS Family Services, abuse.lds.org extends the reach of resources LDS Family Services has provided for decades, which include counseling services to members and families as well as consultation and helpline services to leaders for abuse-related issues. “For several years we have discussed how we can broaden our scope to make resources available to all,” said Baer. “This website is an outgrowth of the efforts of many, and we hope it will be a resource for healing and protection to those who are affected by or vulnerable to abuse.”