TV presenter praised for subtle detail on hand amid coronavirus pandemic
A TV presenter has been praised after viewers noticed a stream of numbers printed in ink on her hand as she presented the news.
Victoria Derbyshire, a presenter for the BBC, was reading the news on Monday, when viewers noticed the numbers printed on her left hand.
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Derbyshire, as most journalists and TV presenters have been doing lately, was covering a number of stories on coronavirus.
In the UK, people aren’t allowed out of their homes unless it’s for exercise, medical reasons or to purchase essential items from the grocery store.
According to the UK’s National Domestic Abuse Hotline, also known as RISE, given the current isolation conditions calls to its number have gone up by 25 per cent.
Viewers noticed Derbyshire had the number for the hotline written on her hand.
The presenter had tweeted a photo of the number on her hand before the broadcast.
“The National Domestic Abuse hotline has seen a 25 per cent increase in calls and online requests for help in the past week,” she tweeted.
“During the lockdown there’s also been a daily rise in people going on the helpline website & last wk that figure was up by 150 per cent. The helpline is open 24/7.”
She later told CNN she left it on her hand “in case it could help any of the millions watching after 9am on BBC1”.
The National Domestic Abuse hotline has seen a 25% increase in calls & online requests for help in past week
During the lockdown there’s also been a daily rise in people going on the helpline website & last wk that figure was up by 150%
The helpline is open 24/7 pic.twitter.com/onHBSfhERV— Victoria Derbyshire (@vicderbyshire) April 6, 2020
“It's even more vital to get the helpline number out there," she said.
Derbyshire was praised for sharing the phone number with people calling it a “brilliant idea”.
“This really worked, I am fortunate to not be in the position to need this number, but it grabbed my attention so much I googled to see what the number was for, such an amazing idea and could save so many lives!” one woman tweeted.
Another woman tweeted it’s a “fantastic way to help people”.
“Thank you for using your platform to bring awareness to this very important issue,” another woman tweeted.
‘It’s just so much more difficult’
Patty Kinnersly, CEO of Australian-based Our Watch, told the ABC there are concerns isolation along with increased financial pressure on households could “exacerbate the underlying conditions” leading to violence.
Ms Kinnersly said if anyone’s concerned about the safety of a vulnerable person during social isolation they should text them, “are you safe?”
"And don't forget to make sure they have the helplines at their disposal," she told the ABC.
CEO of South East Community Links Rhonda Cumberland told SBS News she’s concerned about women not having support networks available to them.
“The entrapment is real. It will last quite a long time. It’s very hard to reach these women at the best of times, but in these conditions, it’s just so much more difficult,” she told SBS News.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, find help by visiting Lifeline or calling 1800 RESPECT.
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