The spread of the COVID-19 is making violence in homes more frequent, more severe and more dangerous.

Domestic violence goes up whenever families spend more time together, such as the Christmas and summer vacations, she said.

Now, with families in lockdown worldwide, hotlines are lighting up with abuse reports, leaving governments trying to address a crisis that experts say they should have seen coming.

According to the New York Times, the United Nations called for urgent action to combat the worldwide surge in domestic violence. “I urge all governments to put women’s safety first as they respond to the pandemic,” Secretary General António Guterres wrote on Twitter.

For anonymous confidential help call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)

October’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast guest, Rose Hall, from Tessie’s Teas, shares important resources for anyone seeking help with domestic violence.