IN AN EMERGENCY, OR IF YOU WITNESS AN ASSAULT, CALL 999

Helping someone experiencing domestic abuse

It can be hard to tell if someone you know is experiencing abuse. You may have an instinct that something is not right, find out more information about warning signs here

Often, women living with abuse are isolated from their support network of family and friends by their perpetrator.

They can also feel very ashamed of talking about what is happening to them, wrongly believing that in some way it is their fault.

It is helpful to remember that:

• Abusers can be charming, well respected members of the community;
• Domestic violence and abuse takes place across the entire Jewish community;
• Abuse happens in affluent households and lower income ones; in religious homes and secular ones; with young couples and those in their senior years;
• A woman who is confident in her work and social life can come to believe she is useless if her partner consistently tells her she is stupid, isolates her from friends and family and blames her for their abusive behaviour.

If your friend, neighbour or relative tells you she is experiencing domestic violence or abuse, do listen to her and offer support and information about JWA and how we might help her. You can offer to keep her company to support her while she calls JWA, particularly if she needs to leave a violent partner or family member.

If you feel you need advice about what to say to her and how to support her, do call our office on 020 8445 8060, our helpline on 0808 801 0500 or email [email protected].

Staying safe

It can be very upsetting to think that someone is hurting a person you care about. Your first instinct may be to want to protect your friend or family member, but intervening could in fact be dangerous for both you and her. Of course, this does not mean you should ignore it; there are things she can do to help make her (and any children) safer.

If it is related to rape or sexual assault, click here