The Monroe County commissioners declared October 2023 to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

During their meeting on Oct. 4, they also declared the first week of October 2023 as Mental Illness Awareness Week.

“October is a very special month,” said Sharon Laverdure, the chairwoman of the commissioners.

Laverdure presented a certificate to Lauren Peterson, the executive director of Safe Monroe, with the Domestic Violence Awareness Month declaration.

Safe Monroe is the new name for the Women’s Resources of Monroe County.

“For 43 years, we’ve been providing free and confidential services to anyone who has been affected by domestic or sexual abuse in Monroe County,” Peterson said. “However with women in our name, we realized that it can be misleading that we only provide services to women or that domestic and sexual abuse only affect women, which is not the case. One in three women and one in six men are affected by interpersonal, which includes both domestic and sexual abuse, in the United States every year.”

Peterson said the nonprofit organization went through an 18-month rebranding process. They interviewed people in the community, supporters, survivors, volunteers, staff, board members, and focus groups, as well as ran surveys to gather information about how they are perceived and what they can do differently.

“The word we kept hearing was safe: They got me safe. They taught me how to stay safe. They provided me safety,” Peterson said.

From the results, the organization decided to put safe and their location together to form “Safe Monroe. Where abuse ends and hope begins.”

“This is our hope for the world that we can provide safety and hope for anyone that has been affected by domestic or sexual abuse,” Peterson said.

Commissioner John Christy asked if they have seen an increase in domestic and sexual abuse over the past 10 years.

Peterson said, “We’ve really seen an increase in the level of mental health needs and the increase in how trauma has affected people across all age ranges. We’re seeing more and more people reaching out for help.”

Peterson said that some cases involve substance abuse, and some of those also include mental health issues. “The level of need has increased across all sectors we’re seeing.”

Safe Haven has new brochures, and Peterson reminded everyone of their upcoming event. Shine a Light for Healing candlelight vigil will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 at the Stroudsburg Courthouse Square.

The second proclamation declaring the first week of October 2023 as Mental Health Awareness Week was done “to raise public awareness and understanding of public health, available resources for them in the community, and to reduce the stigma faced by people with mental illness,” Laverdure said.