We’re raising awareness of different forms of abuse over 16 days. Why? Because we can’t address what we don’t talk about and we want everyone to feel safe and supported to seek help if they need it.
We want to start meaningful conversations and highlight the help available to put a stop to abuse, of all kinds, both now and in the future.
Today we’re focusing on abuse against men.
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone and every case must be taken seriously. While it’s not widely spoken about, men can be victims of abuse too. And as part of our 16 days of awareness raising it’s important that we talk about it.
A crime survey for England, released at the end of the financial year in 2019, estimated that 786,000 men aged 16 to 74 had experienced domestic abuse in the last 12 months. One in three of every domestic abuse victim will be male, so we know it happens and there’s a need to highlight it.
There’s a lot of unhelpful beliefs attached to masculinity and being male that play a part in abuse against men going unreported. Phrases like ‘man up’ and ‘men don’t cry’ are examples of this. But we’re all human with emotions and it’s important to remember anyone can feel a certain way.
The stats
- Male victims of abuse are over three times as likely as women not to tell anyone about partner abuse.
- One in every five victims of forced marriage is a man.
- 13% of men are rough sleepers as a result of partner abuse.
Signs of a man being abused
- Changes in behaviour
- Changes in physical appearance and clothing
- Changes in contact
- Changes in behaviour at work
No one should have to be silent about their experiences and everyone has the right to live free from abuse. If something isn’t spoken about, it doesn’t mean it’s not happening. But there is help available, and here’s a list of support services that provide support for male victims.
If you’re a resident and would like to speak to our Community Safety team, call us on 0300 123 1 567. A member of the team will be in touch with you within 24 hours. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to speak to someone elsewhere, contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
If you’re in immediate danger, please call 999.
