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Domestic violence

About domestic abuse

The term ‘domestic abuse’ is an all-encompassing, non-legal term that refers to an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is very common. In the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men.

1 in 4

Women will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime

2

Women a week are killed by a current or former partner

20%

Of children in the UK have lived with an adult perpetrating domestic abuse

Who is affected by domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse it can happen to anyone — regardless of age, background, gender identity, sex, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity. However, statistics show that women are more likely than men to experience multiple incidents of abuse, different types of domestic abuse and that most of these forms of abuse are carried out by men.

Self referrals

If you would like to refer yourself for therapy at HERSANA you can do this through our online self-referral form or you can phone us.

Why does domestic abuse happen?

Domestic abuse perpetrated by men against women is rooted in women’s unequal status in society and is part of the wider social problem of male violence against women and girls.

Researchers have different ideas about why people perpetrate domestic abuse.

But whatever the reason or motive, there is never any excuse or justification for domestic violence. Domestic abuse, stalking and harassment are serious crimes. They cannot be explained away.

If you have been through any kind of domestic abuse, please know that it was not your fault. It doesn’t matter how long ago it happened - you are in no way to blame.

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