10/04/2026
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. ๐
PATH was honored to attend the Annual Domestic Violence March & Candlelight Vigil in Milledgeville.
During the event, names were called in remembrance of those whose lives were lost to domestic violence. Hearing those names was a powerful reminder that every loss represents a person, a family, and a life taken too soon.
We remember them. We honor them. And we also have to ask what we can do as a community to help prevent more loss.
Domestic violence can affect anyone โ women and men, people of every background, and families from every walk of life. And we cannot forget the children who witness it, live in the middle of it, or grow up carrying the effects of it. Even when they are not physically harmed, exposure to violence can shape what they come to believe is normal in relationships and how they learn to cope with fear, anger, and conflict.
We also know that domestic violence can sometimes intersect with substance use, trauma, learned behaviors, unhealthy coping, and difficulty regulating emotions. Understanding those factors does not excuse abuse or take the focus away from survivors. But if we want to prevent violence, we also have to understand the cycles that can contribute to it and work to break them.
At PATH, we see how trauma, substance use, isolation, unhealthy relationships, and poor coping skills can become tangled together and keep people stuck. Recovery can mean more than stopping the use of drugs or alcohol. It can also mean learning healthier ways to cope, managing emotions differently, healing from trauma, building safe relationships, and choosing a different path forward.
We also want to recognize Sheriff Bill Massee, State Court Solicitor General Skye Gess, Victim Services Program Director Linnesia Lattimore, and Heather with Circle of Love for their work and continued commitment to domestic violence awareness, support, and prevention in our community.
Awareness matters. Support matters. Prevention matters. And breaking these cycles matters โ especially for the children who are watching and learning what relationships are supposed to look like.
This month, we remember those we have lost, stand with survivors, and continue working toward a community where fewer families ever have to experience this kind of loss. ๐
