October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We are proud to have been in the forefront of providing information to help victims and offering ways to combat abusers over the past decade.

Reporter Lisa Kristoff has led the charge for the past several years in getting out vital information to our readers about domestic violence by writing stories about victims, highlighting the various types of domestic violence, and putting together a special section on our website listing many resources. Become informed by visiting the special resource page.

We haven't always agreed with Gov. Paul LePage's decisions and statements, but we praise him for making domestic violence awareness one of his major causes during his terms in office.

In 2013, he issued an executive order which established a new task force to address domestic violence. He has also signed a law establishing a project for the electronic monitoring of certain domestic violence abusers. Gov. LePage has also seen that funding has been made available for other projects helping to curb domestic violence.

Domestic violence is about power and control. The abuser can use various methods of gaining that power and control, such as physical abuse, threats, emotional abuse, using isolation, blaming and denying, and using children to gain an advantage over the victim.

If you have a friend or relative that you suspect is in an abusive relationship, you can help them in many ways.

One way is to talk to them and really listen. Tell them you believe what they are telling you. Tell them what you have observed about their relationship. Provide information on how they can seek help.

Give them the number 1-800-522-3304, which is the toll-free number for New Hope for Women. Give them confidence that they can get help and end the abuse.