What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is behaviour that is designed to control, threaten and/or harm another person in a relationship – in most cases by a former or current partner and in some cases by a relative or carer.
Abuse can be an isolated incident or a pattern of repeated behaviour and can take place at any point in a relationship – including once it has ended.
Domestic abuse is very common and can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, age, background, religion, sexuality or ethnicity. Statistics demonstrate that the large majority of domestic abuse is experienced by women and carried out by men.
What form can domestic abuse take?
Domestic abuse comes in various forms, including:
-
Physical abuse
-
Sexual abuse
-
Emotional and/or psychological abuse (intimidation, humiliation, manipulation, threats)
-
Coercive control
-
Economic/ financial abuse
-
Online/ digital abuse
-
Stalking and/or harassment
-
Isolation
1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse at some point in her life.
Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or worried about someone else, you can contact us and be connected to the service that best meets your needs.
Our trained practitioners listen, believe you, and work with you to understand your situation, explore your options, and get you to the right support, when you need it.