If someone confides in you that they’re suffering domestic abuse:

 

• listen, but be careful not to blame them

• acknowledge it takes strength to talk to someone about experiencing abuse

• give them time to talk.  Don’t push them to talk if they don’t want to, they may not be ready

• acknowledge they’re in a frightening and difficult situation

• tell them nobody deserves to be threatened or beaten, despite what the abuser has said

• support them as a friend – encourage them to express their feelings, but allow them to make their own decisions

• don’t tell them to leave the relationship if they’re not ready – that’s their decision

• ask if they have suffered physical harm – if so, offer to go with them to a hospital or GP

• help them report the assault to the police if they choose to

• be ready to provide information on organisations that offer help for people experiencing domestic abuse