Heat and Its Impact on

Domestic Violence

While summer brings more sunshine and social gatherings, it can also bring heightened heat-related stress and other harm-inducing factors, exacerbating potential violence for those close to you. A 2018 study titled “Heat wave and the risk of intimate partner violence” highlights that rising temperatures are linked to increased incidents of domestic violence, both inside and outside the home. 

Researchers are exploring how social determinants of health, such as heat, socioeconomic status and mental health, influence intrafamily violence. In summer particularly, factors like irritability from the heat, increased alcohol consumption, and having children at home can all contribute to a greater risk of violence. Understanding these dynamics is crucial to addressing and preventing domestic violence during the summer months. 

Coping Strategies for the Heat 

• Stay Cool Indoors: Take advantage of the AC! Enjoy free indoor activities like visiting Smithsonian museums or local libraries, many of which offer programming for kids. 

• Dive into DC Public Pools: Cool off at a nearby free DC pool and encourage friends to join you. 

• Find Your Calm: Practice meditation or mindfulness. Remember, it’s okay to take a break and extend grace to yourself and others. 

Resources for Those Experiencing Domestic Violence 

If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, please reach out to local shelters and support services, like My Sisters Place.

You can find more information, including services from our community partners, here: Resources for Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence | DCHR. 

Ways communities can help combat the uptick in domestic violence over the summer: 

• Urban Heat Island Policies: Combat urban heat islands with initiatives like, “Keep Cool DC.” 
• Accessible Summer Programs: Increase accessibility and affordability of summer programs for all Youth 
• Heat Refuges: Enhance the number and accessibility of heat refuges like libraries and swimming pools, offering cold water and air conditioning. 
• Domestic Violence (DV) Outreach Funding: Boost Funding for DV outreach and prevention programs 

Lipstick Project Update: Support for GW Hospital  

A big thank you to Evans Consulting, an Ally Sponsor of MSP, for their volunteer efforts! With their help, we filled 300 concealed lipstick containers with Safety Plans. 

MSP staff successfully delivered these potentially lifesaving resources to the NICU this month. Our Lipstick Project is especially crucial as mothers experiencing domestic violence often face heightened risks. The dynamics of risk can increase due to factors such as financial pressures, isolation, health vulnerability among others. As noted in one study,

“Pregnancy can be an especially risky period for intimate partner violence (IPV), as many women report that abuse started or intensified when they became pregnant.” 

Furthermore, the compounding effects of a heat wave only add to the stresses for a new family and could potentially be a precursor to abusive behavior. 



Read more here: Intimate Partner Violence Endangers Pregnant People and Their Infants | National Partnership for Women & Families 

A big shoutout to GW Hospital and Sarah for highlighting this urgent need for resource delivery to new mothers and supporting efforts to empower new mothers.

Please visit our Corporate Partners page to learn more about how your workplace can be involved in initiatives like these.