Information & Resources

Abuse is not always physical. It can be emotional, verbal, financial, sexual, or technological, often characterized by a pattern of coercive control. Key terms include:

• Gaslighting: Manipulating someone into questioning their own sanity.
• Coercive Control: A pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation, and intimidation used to harm, punish, or frighten.
• Flying Monkeys: People who act on behalf of an abuser to a third party, often for abusive purposes.

If you feel you are being controlled, isolated, or belittled, you may be experiencing abuse. Questionnaires are available from services like Women's Aid to help you identify the signs.

These statistics from official sources help illustrate the scale of the issue. (Note: Figures are based on data for England and Wales and are for illustrative purposes).

• An estimated 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.
• In the year ending March 2023, an estimated 1.7 million women aged 16 years and over experienced domestic abuse.
• On average, the police in England and Wales receive over 100 calls relating to domestic abuse every hour.
• Domestic abuse-related crimes represent over 15% of all crimes recorded by the police.

Sources: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Crime Survey for England and Wales, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

Experiencing domestic abuse is a traumatic event that can have a significant and lasting impact on mental health. It's common to experience a range of challenges as a result of trauma. This is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. Below is some information on common conditions, but please remember this is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for a professional diagnosis.

• Anxiety: May feel like constant worry, fear, being on edge, or panic attacks.
• Depression: Can include persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, fatigue, and feelings of hopelessness.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Can involve flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the trauma.
• Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD/BPD): Can affect how you cope with your feelings, leading to intense and fluctuating emotions, an unstable sense of self, and difficulty with relationships.
• Bipolar Disorder: Characterized by extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
• Eating Disorders: Trauma can sometimes manifest in an unhealthy relationship with food, including anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder, as a way to cope or regain a sense of control.
• Addiction & Substance Misuse: Using alcohol or drugs as a way to cope with the pain and trauma of abuse.
• Schizophrenia: This is a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, causing them to seem like they have lost touch with reality. Symptoms can include hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren’t there) and delusions (strong beliefs not based in reality). It is treatable with medication and psychological support.

It is vital to remember that you are not alone and help is available. Speaking with a GP or a mental health professional is a brave and important step towards healing. You can find helplines on the Rapid Connect page.

Modern slavery is a serious crime encompassing slavery, servitude, and forced or compulsory labour. Victims can be of any age, gender, or nationality and are often controlled through threats, coercion, or deception.

Key signs to look out for:

• The person is not in possession of their own passport or ID.
• They appear to be under the control of someone else and are reluctant to interact with others.
• They have few personal belongings and wear the same clothes every day.
• They are withdrawn or appear frightened, and may show signs of physical or psychological abuse.
• They are forced to work for little or no pay, often in poor conditions.

If you believe you or someone you know is a victim of modern slavery, you can contact the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline on 08000 121 700 or report it online. In an emergency, always call 999.