Helping someone you know - Jewish Women's Aid

Helping someone experiencing abuse

It can be hard to tell if someone you know is experiencing abuse.

Often, women living with abuse are isolated from their support network of family and friends by the perpetrator. They can also feel ashamed of talking about what is happening to them, wrongly believing that in some way it’s their fault.

It's helpful to remember that:

Abusers can be charming, well-respected members of the community
Domestic abuse and sexual violence 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

What you can do?

If someone you know tells you they are experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence, listen to her, offer support and tell her about JWA and how we might help.

You can offer to keep her company while she calls us, particularly if she needs to leave a violent partner or family member.

Remember, depending on the situation, intervening could be dangerous for both you and her. There are things she can do to make her and any children safer, and we can support her to create a plan to move forward.

What do you do?

It may be that she doesn’t say anything but instinct tells you something isn’t right. If you need advice about what to say or how to support someone, you can:

– Call our free, confidential helpline on 0808 801 0500.

– Email advice@jwa.org.uk

In an emergency, always dial 999.

OUR HELPLINE

0808 801 0500

Call our free, confidential helpline
Monday - Thursday 9.30am-9.30pm

Outside these hours you may leave us a voicemail and someone will come back to you.

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