Most of you may not know this, but January is National Stalking Awareness Month. In the United States, 3.4 million adults are victims of stalking in a year and yet many people are unaware of the facts about stalking and its effects. So here are some fun facts!

• Stalking is considered a crime in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and most US territories
• However, like sexual assault, many incidents of stalking are not reported to the police out of fear or intimidation.
• About 75% of stalking victims know their stalker.
• Celebrity victims of stalking get the most press but it is not the most common incident of stalking. Most victims are simply ordinary people.
• 30% of victims are stalked by an ex or current intimate partner.
• Stalkers use a wide variety of methods to harass, monitor and intimidate their victims, including but not limited to constant phone calls, hacking into personal accounts and following their victim.
• It’s not just as easy as turning the other cheek, the majority of stalkers will not stop if ignored and their behavior may escalate over time if not reported.
• Studies show that most stalkers are NOT mentally ill.

Now that you know the facts, take the quiz! http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org/quiz Remember, the more we know about stalking, the easier it will be to stop.