Domestic abuse can destroy lives, leaving physical and emotional scars. Survivors can find themselves isolated from friends and family and lose their independence. It can take many forms: it is not just physical abuse; it can also be financial, emotional and psychological.
Most survivors are women with a male perpetrator, but it’s important to remember
that men can also be subject to abuse, and domestic abuse can happen in same-sex relationships. A key learning in producing this guidance is that we should not make assumptions about who the abuser may be or what a survivor may be experiencing, but to listen and respond in a supportive way.