Injury is a leading cause of death and hospital visits in Virginia. Injuries and violence can affect all Virginians. Often, survivors and communities face life-long physical, mental, and financial problems.
Despite its burden, injuries and violence are often preventable through potentially modifiable factors, such as the environment, behavior change, policy, and use of safety devices.
The Virginia Department of Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program aims to reduce injuries, hospitalizations and deaths for all Virginians by reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors.
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COVID-19: Injury and Violence Prevention: Toolkit in construction
**Note-The VDH Injury and Violence Prevention program is a training, technical assistance, and policy development program, and is not crisis intervention service based.
Virginians have experienced drastic changes in everyday life– schools, faith communities, businesses, and workplaces being closed, Virginia’s “shelter in place” and “social distancing” as a result of COVID-19….. Often times, change in general can lead to increased incidents of injuries and violence, while also taking a tremendous toll on protective factors like economic stability, community connectedness, and mental health.
As Virginia and our nation continues to respond to this rapidly changing environment, we can ensure that practices we know to prevent injuries and violence and support resilient, healthy communities, remain part of the ongoing conversation.
If you or someone you know is in need of immediate assistance, please use or share the following hotlines:
Suicide Prevention
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or 1-800-273-TALK
Crisis Text Line: 741741
Child Help: 800-422-4453
Family/Intimate Partner Violence
Virginia Family Violence & Sexual Assault Hotline, 1-800-838-8238
LGBTQ Partner Abuse and Sexual Assault Helpline, 1-800-356-6998.
If you are not able to call, text 804.793.9999. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.