Black Dot Campaign gives domestic violence victims hope

A black dot on the palm of someone’s hand may be more than a stray mark left by a pen – it could be a silent plea for help from a victim of domestic violence.

Earlier this month, a domestic violence survivor launched the “Black Dot Campaign,” which offers victims of domestic violence a way to ask for help by simply drawing a black dot on the palm of their hand. Individuals who recognize the mark can then help the victim get the support they need.

During the first seven days, 5 million people around the globe were reached with the campaign’s message, and 49 individuals are now safe and away from their abusers, according to the organization’s Facebook page.

“The black dot is people saying, ‘Ask me about this, I really need help,’” says Sarah Katula, psychiatric advanced practice nurse at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Ill.

While some critics of the campaign worry that perpetrators will see the black dot and recognize its meaning, only making the situation worse, the campaign’s founder responded to these comments with a Facebook posting stating: “This isn’t the solution that will help everyone, if anything it should help people realize what abuse is, how it affects people and how to access help.”

“The victim is going to know best if their perpetrator is going to know what the black dot is, and they will know best how their perpetrator will respond,” says Katula. “If the victim wants to use the black dot, they should if they feel safe doing so.”

Katula emphasizes the importance of health care providers receiving training through local domestic violence shelters so they can appropriately help victims.

“It’s not just a black dot, it’s a black eye, sometimes it’s showing up late to work or wounds that don’t quite make sense,” she says. “This is why domestic violence training is so important.”

Training should include learning how to recognize the signs, what questions are appropriate to ask and how to refer a victim for help.

For those in need of help, the National Domestic Violence hotline can also be contacted at 1.800.799.SAFE.