You may have suspicions that someone you know is living in an abusive relationship but what do you say? Do you say anything? And if you do say something, will they stop talking to you?

These are all valid questions so here is our Number 1 Top Tip:

There’s enormous power in repetition

Repetition could be regularly trying to contact the person you care about because they may not be too busy. They may not be ghosting you. They may actually be living in an abusive and controlling relationship. That means their abuser is deleting your voicemails, emails and txt before they can be seen. By reaching out regularly, you increase the chances of your message being seen by the person you care about.

Repetition is asking “Is everything alright?”, followed by “I’m always available to chat or help”. It takes a lot for someone to disclose they are living in an abusive relationship – especially if they believe you really like their abusive partner. So keep asking if they are alright and keep reminding them you are always available to chat in the hope that one day they will reach out to you for help.

If you are really concerned, try regularly dropping in for a coffee and a chat. Just staying 15 minutes will give you an opportunity to see for yourself how everything is going. But remember, don’t criticise or make accusations as you may make things more difficult for the person you have concerns for.

Follow our socials to receive more useful information on domestic violence or visit the Resources page on our website.