Healthy Relationships Week is an Alpha Chi Omega philanthropy (which is domestic violence awareness or DVA) event that takes place in February each year. Its purpose is to foster the development of healthy relationships and, in turn, prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. It is a week to take the time to talk about how to better our personal relationships, what the signs are for an unhealthy relationship (both in our own and others), and ways to seek help if you happen to be in one. It is also a week to strengthen new and existing relationships through mutual love, support, and growth.
Despite creating this event, this week is not just for the Alpha Chi Omega sororities. Instead, it is for every single person out there, whether they are struggling, helping, or just willing to learn.
This year, the LMU chapter of Alpha Chi Omega took over the school with ways to spread awareness for domestic violence and promote healthy relationships. With tabling events and a Healthy Relationship Workshop, Alpha Chi Omega spread the positive message of “love shouldn’t hurt.” Through this, they worked within their own chapter and the entire school body to spread self-love and to work on what it means to be in a healthy relationship.
But why is this so important?
Healthy Relationships Week is an incredibly important event that occurs because it helps promote the value of ourselves in our own relationships. Additionally, It kindly teaches us how to accept and treat others better, even if we think that we are already doing a good job. This week is meant to raise awareness for domestic violence, using a couple different methods.
1. It attempts to end the stigma. By talking more about DVA and sexual assault, we can hopefully begin and grow the conversation from something that is only talked about behind closed doors to a topic that anyone can feel comfortable talking about.
2. It is about believing victims. Too often, victims are not believed when it comes to domestic violence. This is to help begin the conversation with open minds and hearts, and not blame or downplay a victim’s story. Additionally, it helps bring men and children who are affected into this conversation.
3. It is to help each other. All in all, Healthy Relationships Week aims to raise awareness and to help one another in our everyday lives. It is a large movement that starts with the smallest of actions, and it is our job to do that.