By Arezoo Shahbazi Roa, MSW, Sr. Prevention & Strategic Partnerships Director
Summer is often portrayed as a season of freedom. School is out. Vacations are planned. Neighborhoods are filled with the sounds of children playing, families gather for barbecues, and social media feeds overflow with pictures of sunshine and celebration. But for many survivors of relationship violence, summer can feel very different.
Over the years, research and reports from service organizations have shown increases in relationship violence during the summer months, often connected to disrupted routines, increased financial pressures, more time spent together, and heightened stress. For survivors already navigating abuse, the very season that symbolizes freedom can bring additional challenges.
Imagine Maya. When summer arrived, everyone around her seemed excited. Friends talked about beach days and family vacations. Parents discussed summer camps and weekend adventures. Maya smiled when people asked about her plans, but privately she felt a growing sense of anxiety. With her children home from school, there were fewer opportunities to connect with trusted adults. The structure that had once helped her get through each day disappeared. The household expenses seemed to grow by the week, and so did the tension inside the home. Her partner’s need for control became more pronounced, monitoring where she went, questioning whom she spoke with, and criticizing even the smallest decisions.
What looked like an ordinary summer from the outside felt entirely different behind closed doors. For many survivors, abuse does not take a vacation. Summer can bring unique challenges. Children being home more often can reduce privacy and make it harder to seek support. Family gatherings and holidays can increase stress and conflict. Vacations may isolate survivors from people they trust, while the added costs of childcare, transportation, and seasonal activities can deepen financial dependence. For those who have already left an abusive relationship, concerns about stalking, harassment, or unwanted contact may continue long after the relationship has ended.
One afternoon, a close friend asked Maya a question she had not heard in a long time. “How are you really doing?” For the first time, Maya told the truth. That conversation did not solve everything. It did not immediately change her circumstances. But it shifted to something important. She no longer felt alone. Through the support she received, Maya began thinking about safety in ways that felt practical and empowering. She identified people she could trust if she needed help. She created a simple code word with a loved one that would signal she was not safe. She gathered important documents and began considering what resources might be available if she ever needed them. Rather than feeling trapped by uncertainty, she slowly began creating options for herself and her children. Each small step reminded her that she deserved safety and support. This is what safety planning often looks like. It is not a single decision or a one-size-fits-all solution. It is a personalized process that centers the survivor’s unique circumstances, needs, and strengths. Survivors are the experts in their own lives. What matters most is having support, information, and someone who will listen without judgment.
Summer can certainly bring additional risks, but it can also create opportunities for healing. It can be the season when someone reaches out for help for the first time. It can be the season when a survivor reconnects with supportive friends, joins a support group, attends counseling, or begins to imagine a future free from abuse. Sometimes healing begins not with a major milestone, but with a quiet realization: I deserve to be safe.
As a community, we all have a role to play. We can check in on loved ones. We can listen without judgment. We can believe survivors when they share their experiences. We can educate ourselves about the warning signs of abuse and help connect people to resources when they are ready. A single conversation can remind someone that they are seen, valued, and not alone.
While summer may be filled with sunshine for many, we must remember those carrying invisible burdens. Every survivor deserves more than survival. They deserve peace. They deserve freedom. They deserve the opportunity to create joyful memories with their children, their families, and themselves.
At Human Options, we believe help should be available in every season. Our 24/7 hotline connects survivors with compassionate advocates who can provide support, safety planning, and information about available resources. Whether someone is seeking immediate assistance or simply needs someone to listen, they do not have to navigate their journey alone.
Because safety should never be seasonal, and neither should hope. If you or someone you know is experiencing relationship violence, contact Human Options’ 24/7 Hotline at 877-854-3594. Help is available, and you are not alone.
