Domestic violence gets a lot of attention in New Mexico after something really gruesome happens, but long-term health consequences often go overlooked. in the Roundhouse draws attention to the effects of strangulation.
About of people who experience domestic violence are strangled. But first responders don鈥檛 always screen survivors for strangulation, which doesn鈥檛 necessarily leave physical signs behind, said state Rep. Debbie Armonstrong. "It doesn鈥檛 take long鈥攋ust like with a heart attack鈥攆or the interruption of blood to the brain to cause brain damage that could lead to death days or weeks later or lead to traumatic brain injury."
Once a person can breathe again, they may focus on more obvious injuries and emotional trauma, Armstrong said, and brain injuries can often be mistaken for behavioral health or anger management issues.
Armstrong鈥檚 sponsored a memorial in this legislative session that would create a task force to shed light on the problem, consider prevention and create public awareness.
The memorial asks for no money from the state to form the task force.
