October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

News 12 The Bronx is doing its part to help break the cycle of domestic violence and show viewers that love shouldn't hurt.

Quentin Walcott, co-executive director of CONNECT, says domestic violence can happen to anyone. He says it is especially hard for men to come out and say they have been abused because society sees them as the heads of their households.

Walcott says domestic violence can be a cycle that moves down to children who have witnessed violence. Those children are then sometimes prone to showing violence toward animals or siblings. They may also become involved with gun and gang violence.

CONNECT uses a prevention approach to domestic violence in communities. Walcott says 90 percent of the violence reported is men toward women. So, the organization speaks to boys at a young age in schools and single-gender groups to teach things like socialization and the harmful effects of viewing women as a privilege or property.

Walcott says anyone in an abusive relationship can call the CONNECT help line at 212-683-0605.