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Domestic Abuse and Mental Health

Date: Tuesday, 10th May 2022 | Category: Uncategorised

 

Domestic Abuse and Mental Health

 

This Mental Health Awareness Week (Monday 9 – Sunday 15 May 2022) Sandwell Council is highlighting the fact that domestic abuse can have a severe and lasting impact on mental health both for adults and children.

It can often be the main factor in the development of depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders, and may lead to sleep disturbances, self-harm, suicide and attempted suicide, eating disorders and substance misuse.

This Mental Health Awareness Week is raising awareness of the impact loneliness can have on our wellbeing and mental health.  Victims of domestic abuse can often feel lonely and isolated and not know where to go for help.  However, specialist help and support is available.  Emotional abuse is a way to control another person by using emotions to criticise, embarrass, shame, blame, or otherwise manipulate another person.

If you are in a relationship that is emotionally abusive where there is a consistent pattern of abusive words and bullying behaviours this can lead to feelings of isolation and poor mental health.

If you or someone you know are experiencing emotional abuse and need support you can contact Black Country Women’s Aid  (https://blackcountrywomensaid.co.uk/) which provides a range of services and support to women and men experiencing domestic abuse from all communities, ethnicities and backgrounds. Alternatively there is a male service, Ask Marc (https://askmarc.org.uk/) –  for men and boys who have experienced domestic abuse, rape and sexual abuse.

Birmingham LGBT Centre can also provide a range of support services for LGBT victims visit: https://blgbt.org/.

You can also contact the Sandwell Council Housing Team on 0121 368 1166, Option 2 for Housing Solutions or email: housing_choice@sandwell.gov.uk

Leader of Sandwell Council, Councillor Kerrie Carmichael said:

“Domestic abuse can affect your mental health and happen to anyone. Sandwell Council works with a range of partners throughout the year to help those experiencing domestic abuse. If domestic abuse is happening to you, it’s important that that you tell someone – you don’t have to wait for an emergency situation to find help.”

More domestic abuse information is available online (https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/domesticabuse).