VALLEY CITY, N.D. (APOC) – This month, Abused Persons Outreach Center (APOC) asks you to join our efforts in spreading awareness about stalking through the theme “KNOW IT, NAME IT, STOP IT.” January 2026 marks the twenty-second annual National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM), a call to action to better recognize and respond to this criminal, traumatic, and dangerous victimization.
More than 1 in 5 women and approximately 1 in 10 men in the U.S. experience stalking in their lifetimes, 1 but too often it goes unnamed and unaddressed. It takes all of us to better recognize and respond to stalking – including advocacy and support services, legal system professionals, healthcare services, and friends, family, and community members. Stalking is defined as a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear or emotional distress. As fear is highly personal, so is stalking; stalkers often engage in behaviors that seem benign to outsiders but are
terrifying in context. Most stalkers target people that they know, and many are current or former intimate partners or acquaintances 2 who have knowledge about the victim’s specific vulnerabilities and fears. Individual incidents may or may not be criminal acts themselves; common stalking tactics include unwanted communication, showing up uninvited, spreading rumors, and following and watching the victim.
A new study published this year found that the risk of cardiovascular disease was 41% higher in women who experienced stalking and 70% higher in women with experience obtaining a protective order, compared to women without these experiences; and women who reported both had the highest elevated risk. 3 Among stalking victims, 92% report one or more psychological impacts from their victimization 4 and 25% report feeling physically sick as a result of their victimization. 5 Stalking can impact every aspect of a survivor’s life, yet many victims, families, service providers, and criminal and civil
justice professionals underestimate its danger and urgency.
Most victims tell friends or family about their situation first, and how we respond influences whether they seek further help. We all have a role in identifying stalking, intervening when necessary, and supporting victims and survivors. Join us this January to learn more about stalking, whether you’re a professional responder or community member.
APOC is calling on YOU to join our efforts this National Stalking Awareness Month to KNOW IT, NAME IT, STOP IT. Learn how to get involved with NSAM at StalkingAwareness.org or for more information visit apocnd.org or call 701-845-0072.