Stalking: An alarming and intrusive issue
1/18/2024 by Lacey Pegram-Olson
Stalking involves harassing another human with obsessive attention. Some may think stalking only refers to being followed by another human in an unwanted manner. However, stalking can take many forms:
- Threatening someone, their family or friends.
- Non-consensual communication, such as repeat phone calls, emails, texts or unwanted presents.
- Non-consensual physical contact, such as physical or sexual assault, following or tracking someone and watching from a distance repetitively.
Did you know over 3 million people are stalked every year?
This figure does not include incidents that have not been reported to law enforcement. All genders are susceptible to stalking; however, women are stalked more than twice as often as other genders and fewer than one-third of victims report it to the police.
Did you know that more than two-thirds of victims know their stalker?
A common example is a woman being stalked by her former spouse or someone who has romantic interests in her. More than two-thirds of victims report being fearful of physical harm or death. Many stalkers threaten their victims to comply by making violent threats, such as threatening their loved ones.
What to do if you or a loved one is being stalked
The first thing to do is tell someone — anyone. Many victims are afraid of reporting directly to law enforcement, but if you can start by sharing with a supportive friend, family member, co-worker or supervisor, it can aid in your safety. When someone else knows what is happening, they can offer support and look out for you.
Safety tips
- Use the buddy system when going places, including asking a security/staff escort to bring you to your vehicle. Even at the store, someone can walk you to your vehicle to help load your items.
- Come up with a code word you can share with your family to alert them you are in danger or to notify your children to get out of the home.
- Make all your social media accounts private or consider temporarily shutting down your profiles. Do not allow apps on your phone to track your location (i.e., Snapchat).
- When entering your vehicle while in public, do not stop and grab things like paper on your windshield or something set on your tires. Either go back inside a public place immediately and call law enforcement or get in your vehicle and lock the doors — whichever feels safest to you.
- Make sure your home is secure with proper locks and consider a home camera system.
- Pay attention to your surroundings when walking and avoid looking at your cell phone.
Lacey Pegram-Olson is a master's social work student at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She is also a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. She specializes in treating co-occurring disorders, including substance dependence. She is also involved in crisis work across Southeast Minnesota and has a history of working with adults who have severe and persistent mental illness as well as both adults and adolescents struggling with addiction or mental illness.