What is abuse?
Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality or background.
Abuse comes in all many forms; how to recognise domestic abuse in a relationship
- Emotional abuse
- Threats and intimidation
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
Find out about help and support available to you if you or someone you know feels at risk of abuse.
Where can you get help?
You do not have to wait for an emergency situation to find help. If domestic abuse is happening to you, it’s important to tell someone and remember you’re not alone.
Advice to self-isolate due to coronavirus does not apply if you need to escape from domestic abuse. Many pharmacies have safe spaces where you can get information about support and make calls.
- women can call The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night. The staff will offer confidential, non-judgemental information and support
- talk to a doctor, health visitor or midwife
- men can call Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 (Monday and Wednesday, 9am to 8pm, and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am to 5pm) for non-judgemental information and support
- men can also call ManKind on 0182 3334 244 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm)
- If you identify as LGBT+ you can call Galop on 0800 999 5428 for emotional and practical support
- anyone can call Karma Nirvana on 0800 5999 247 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) for forced marriage and honour crimes. You can also call 020 7008 0151 to speak to the GOV.UK Forced Marriage Unit
- in an emergency, call 999
You can also email for support. It is important that you specify when and if it is safe to respond and to which email address:
- women can email [email protected]. Staff will respond to your email within 5 working days
- men can email [email protected]
- LGBT+ people can email [email protected]
The Survivor’s Handbook from the charity Women’s Aid is free and provides information for women on a wide range of issues, such as housing, money, helping your children, and your legal rights.
If you are worried that you are abusive, you can contact the free Respect helpline on 0808 802 4040.
Non-urgent advice: Remember…
If you are worried that a friend, neighbour or loved one is a victim of domestic abuse then you can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free and confidential advice, 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247.
If you believe there is an immediate risk of harm to someone, or it is an emergency, you should always call 999.
Source: www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/getting-help-for-domestic-violence