Melrose High School Principal Joe Dillon remembers Allison Myrick as a bright, compassionate, artistic young woman who did a superb job as yearbook editor at Groton-Dunstable High School, where he served as principal before coming to Melrose. On Jan. 23, half way through her freshman year at Fitchburg State College, Allison was found stabbed to death in the basement of her ex-boyfriend’s home. The ex-boyfriend has been charged with her murder.

2010 has seen an explosion of violence in family and intimate partner relationships throughout Massachusetts. In six short weeks, an alarming number of eight people have been killed as a result of domestic and teen dating violence. That’s almost half the total of deaths due to domestic violence in 2009, and doesn’t include the related tragedy of the 15-year old student in South Hadley who killed herself after being relentlessly bullied by peers.

What’s going on? Some blame the economy for this increase in violence, and in fact research backs up common sense: financial stress doesn’t cause violence per se but certainly makes it worse. As one expert put it, “If someone has never robbed a bank before, it’s doubtful that they’ll start. But someone who has used violence in the past will likely use it more.” In other words, financial stress inflames an already simmering situation. Domestic violence is about power and control, and if someone feels they are losing control in one area of life, such as losing a job, they might try and exercise more control at home. Finally, victims in this current economic climate are less likely to leave a violent relationship, afraid of how they will support themselves (and in many cases, their children).

Here in Melrose, Melrose Police Domestic Violence Officer Detective Pam Daye reports a significant increase in domestic violence calls to the police over the past month, with 19 domestic violence calls, six new restraining orders issued and three arrests made. Visits to our office at the Melrose Alliance Against Violence (MAAV) have increased by 50 percent since last September. Clearly the economy is having an impact. At the same time, cuts in state funding to human service agencies, including MAAV, mean resources for help are being stretched thinner.

As the case of Allison Myrick demonstrates, however, not all of the murders in 2010 can be blamed on the economy. There is no simple answer to why people commit violence, but we do know it is rarely “out of the blue.” The recent shootings by a professor at the University of Alabama were initially attributed to her “snapping” because of being denied tenure. But now we are learning there was a long history of her use of violence to try and solve problems.

For the past 14 years, the Melrose Alliance Against Violence has worked in collaboration with the police, schools, hospital, clergy, business community, students and parents to prevent violence in our schools and community. We believe there are many opportunities to intervene, and the earlier the better. Our six-session Healthy Relationships Program teaches eighth-grade students how to recognize the early warning signs of abuse and get help if needed. At Melrose High School, the 16 leaders on our Student Action Board educate their peers on dating and sexual violence, and act as bridges between peers in need of help and adult intervention. In December, MAAV participated in the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School’s “Acts of Kindness Week,” teaching students how bystanders play a key role in stopping bullying. In the past several years, we have reached out beyond Melrose, assisting Stoneham and Wakefield in replicating our community-based model, and offering trainings on domestic, teen dating violence and bullying prevention to healthcare providers, schools and other agencies.

Data indicates our efforts are having an impact: Four percent of students at the middle school level report being verbally, physically or sexually hurt by a dating partner in 2009, down from 6 percent in 2007. But at Melrose High School, that statistic is 11 percent of students, slightly higher than the state average of 10 percent. More work remains to be done.

In the wake of Allison Myrick’s tragic death, her parents wrote, “Please take this as an example that this can happen to anyone. If you are in a situation that is in any way abusive, no matter how small it may seem at first, please ask for help.”

MAAV’s services for victims are confidential and free of charge. Please contact us at 781-662-2010 or through our web site at maav.org if you or anyone you know is in need of help.

Rebecca Mooney, M.Ed., is the Executive Director of the Melrose Alliance Against Violence. For more information or to make a donation, please visit maav.org.