What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic Abuse is any type of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behaviour between people in a relationship. It can happen to anyone regardless of their age, race, gender, ability or profession and is not confined to physical violence.
If you are living in an abusive relationship, please know that this is NOT YOUR FAULT and YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Many people experience Domestic Abuse and don’t even realise it. If you are uncomfortable or do not feel safe, we recommend that you contact one of the helplines or support organisations listed below.
Note: the information provided in this module is designed solely to demonstrate the consequences of Domestic Abuse and to point you in the direction of relevant resources to help you if you are struggling right now.
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What is a healthy relationship?
A healthy relationship does not mean that it comes without arguments and challenges. After all, we are all individuals with our own distinct personalities and stories. Here are a few signs that your relationship with someone is of a healthy nature:
- You feel connected
- You respect and trust each other
- You share experiences, values and views
- You can talk to them no matter what
- You provide mutual support and benefit
- You are happy when you are around them
- You feel safe when you are with them
Unhealthy relationships are often tricky to spot. If your relationship with someone makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or bad about yourself, tell someone that you trust, talk to your GP or contact one of the helplines and support services.
Support services
If you would like to access further support or discuss any concerns with a qualified mental health professional, the organisations below provide self-referral options for various talking therapy and counselling services.
What is Mind?
Mind is a mental health charity which provides advice and support to anyone experiencing mental health problems.
They have a network of approximately 125 local Minds across England and Wales offering specialised support and care directly to those who need it most. The types of support available through local Minds varies depending on location but services include: talking therapies, peer support, advocacy, crisis care and more.
The main Mind website also provides emergency advice and urgent coping tools for use in crisis situations.
How to self-refer
1. Enter your postcode in the location search bar to be presented with a list of all the Mind services in your local area. Choose the local Mind that is nearest to your home address and follow the link to their website.
2. Explore the website for counselling and other support service availabilities. Once you have identified the support services that are available to you, follow the on-screen instructions to complete a self-referral for the service that feels right for you.
For online referrals, most services will contact you within 48 hours to confirm receipt of your referral and arrange an appointment with a wellbeing service worker – this contact will likely be a phonecall which may be displayed on your telephone as a private number.
What is the Hub of Hope?
The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database, bringing a range of local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support services together in one place.
The Hub is a signposting service designed to guide people towards appropriate support for their individual needs/preferences. It is available to everyone, not just those who are in crisis, and allows individuals to search for services tailored to their particular concerns.
How to use it
1. Enter your postcode in the location search bar or click on the “click to find nearby services” button. You will then be presented with a list of all the mental health support services in your local area that are registered to the Hub of Hope.
2. Use the filter buttons at the top of the page to refine your results according to service type e.g. NHS/private sector and area of concern e.g. anxiety/depression.
3. Click on each service individually for further information on their exact location, opening hours and areas of expertise. Most services list their contact details alongside a link to their own website.
What is Woman’s Aid?
Women’s Aid is a grassroots federation working to end domestic abuse against women and children in England.
As a federation of over 180 organisations, they provide approximately 300 local lifesaving services to women and children at the most challenging times of their lives and offer a range of different support.
How to use it
Their website provides extensive online support and advice for survivors of domestic abuse, including a live chat service and survivors forum.
They also provide refuge support and safe accommodation for women and children who are fleeing from domestic abuse. You can access refuge accommodation by calling the helpline on 0808 2000 247 or by contacting a local service directly.
To learn more about the support they offer and how you can access it please click on the blue “find out more” button.
Note, the women’s aid website has a ‘quick exit’ button at the side of their webpage. This allows you to exit the website instantly and will remove any trace of it from your browser history.
Additional resources
Below are some links to helpful articles that provide more information on coping with Domestic Abuse and on safely seeking support.
General information
What is Domestic Abuse? Information on keeping yourself safe, what abuse is and different types of abuse.
Signs of Domestic Abuse. Information on spotting the signs of abuse, the forms of abuse and typical myths and excuses around abuse.
Living with an abuser in lockdown. Help for Domestic Abuse victims during Covid-19 lockdown.
Support
Ask for ANI. Government scheme to help as many victims as possible that are potentially stuck in lockdown with a perpetrator.
Getting help for Domestic Abuse. NHS guide to find out how to get help if you or someone you know is a victim of Domestic Abuse.
More resources
There are multiple resources within MyMynd and so try another area.