Speak up!
That's the message from the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, which is urging victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to report abuse.
Spokesperson Terry DeJonge tells BlackburnNews.com our region deals with about 45 cases per year. However, she believes the number is higher because most women don't report domestic or sexual abuse, because they're either afraid or embarrassed.
"Domestic violence and sexual assault is present in Chatham-Kent more than we realize," says DeJonge. "There are a lot of people that encounter domestic violence and don't seek out any help because they're embarrassed or afraid or think, 'It can't happen to me and I don't want other people to know this is happening to me.'"
The Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres say less than 10% of sexual assaults are reported to police.
DeJonge says information is kept confidential if the victim wants it that way.
