Helping Survivors Heal

Domestic and sexual violence is a public health epidemic in New Hampshire that can have lasting affects on the well-being and health of both women and men.

Impact of Domestic and Sexual Violence Increases the Risk of:

• Chronic disease or medical conditions
• Substance misuse/addiction
• Eating disorders
• Suicide
• PTSD
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Risky sexual behaviors
• Further domestic violence

Trauma is an emotional response to a domestic and sexual violence event. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea. While these feelings are normal, some people have difficulty moving on with their lives.

HAVEN is a trauma-informed agency. HAVEN attends to victims’/survivors’ emotional and physical safety. Furthermore, HAVEN assists victims/survivors in strengthening their own capacities to deal with the multiple of complex issues that they face in accessing safety and managing the traumatic effects of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and other lifetime abuse. We ensure that all survivors have access to support services in an environment that is inclusive, welcoming, destigmatizing and non-retraumatizing.