January is National Stalking Awareness Month. Led by our friends at the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC), this annual observance focuses on a crime that is widespread, often misunderstood, and deeply disruptive to victims’ lives.

Stalking is a pattern of repeated behavior directed at a specific person that causes fear for safety or substantial emotional distress. According to SPARC, about 13.5 million people in the United States are stalked each year. Nearly one in three women and one in six men experience stalking in their lifetime, and more than half of all victims report being stalked before age 25.

Some victims fear not knowing what will happen next or that the stalking will never end, and many lose time from work or move as a result of their victimization. Victims also experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and social dysfunction than the general population, as SPARC points out.

Stalkers typically use multiple tactics to pursue their victims, including unwanted phone calls, visits, or messages, as well as surveillance using technology. Many victims are stalked by someone they know, including current or former intimate partners or acquaintances. Learn more about identifying stalking behaviors here.

This National Stalking Awareness Month, we encourage service providers, advocates, and members of the public to share accurate information, engage in evidence-based training, and support trauma-informed responses for victims. Resources from SPARC – including fact sheets, webinars, and tools for education and risk assessment – are available to help deepen understanding and strengthen responses across systems and communities. Check them out here.

NCVC supports all victims of crime. If you or someone you care about has experienced stalking or any form of victimization, free and confidential support is available 24/7 at victimconnect.org or by calling or texting 855-484-2846.