It's important to know that abuse is never your fault. And you're not alone. Sadly, huge numbers of women and girls face abuse every day. That doesn't make it acceptable.
There are lots of reasons people don’t speak out or seek support when they experience abuse. Fear. Shame. Confusion. Worried they won’t be believed or taken seriously. Being uncertain of what support is available and how this could help them. Wanting to forget it ever happened.
Telling someone about your experience can help you to deal with the abuse and get extra support if you need it. That may be emotional support, practical support, health advice and/or legal support.
There’s no pressure on you to do this, and no right or wrong person to tell. You might start with friends or family or someone in your community that you trust.
When you’re ready, and only if you want to, you might choose to talk to a specialist support organisation.
Check in with them when they are alone and offer to help them to report it if they want.
If you think they might be in an abusive relationship, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline can provide expert advice on what you can do and explain the support available.
Specialist support organisations exist to help those who have experienced abuse. They can listen and guide you with whatever you need and many of them are confidential.
If you’re not sure who to speak to, use this filter to find the right support for you.
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Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) offer medical, practical and emotional support 24/7 to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused. SARCs are located across the country and are here for everyone, regardless of when an incident happened.
If you have suffered abuse in your past or when you were a child, it’s never too late to get support. Visit #ItStillMatters Sexual abuse support – Support for victims-survivors of sexual abuse
If you are concerned about child sex abuse, find information and support here. Let's stop abuse together
You might also choose to report what happened to you in a more formal way, whether at work, university or school, or by going to the police.
Remember, in an emergency call 999. If it’s unsafe to speak, you can then press 55 and you will be transferred to a police call handler trained to deal with ‘silent calls’.
I’ve come to terms with what happened now, but I honestly don’t believe I would have without specialised support.
*Testimonials are anonymous to protect identities, but all are based on real experiences
