Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Domestic abuse is not always physical
October 22, 2020
October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month which aims to unify both women and men who have unfortunately been victims of domestic violence.
Two women are killed a week by a current or former partner in England and Wales and in the year ending March 2019, approximately 1.6 million women experienced domestic abuse (Office for National Statistics, 2019).
As alarming as these stats may be, it is assumed that the figures are most likely a lot higher as many cases go unreported.
For the remainder of this month we will be sharing content throughout the communications bulletin all to help raise awareness around domestic violence.
Domestic abuse is not always physical:
Coercive and controlling behaviour as domestic abuse is not always physical. In regards to advice about spotting some of the signs of coercive control please see below:
- Isolating you from friends and family
- Depriving you of basic needs, such as food
- Monitoring your time
- Monitoring you via online communication tools or spyware
- Taking control over aspects of your everyday life, such as where you can go, who you can see, what you can wear and when you can sleep
- Depriving you access to support services, such as medical services
- Repeatedly putting you down, such as saying you’re worthless
- Humiliating, degrading or dehumanising you
- Controlling your finances
- Making threats or intimidating you.
Our ED Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) service will support victims that come through ED. If colleagues from the wider hospital need any advice or support when dealing with a patient disclosure then please contact the safeguarding children team in the first instance.
Contact numbers:
- Safeguarding children team: 0121 507 2844
- Sarah Markland ED IDVA: 07989843233
- Rachana Chauhan: 07823336964