What You Can Do If You Know
a Woman in an Abusive Relationship
excerpted from:
— from Nova Scotia. For print copies of the above publications, contact: women@gov.ns.ca, Tel: 902-424-8662; Fax: 902-424-0573
DO:
- read this
book
- be patient and understanding
- help her make a safety plan
- believe her
- encourage her to call a transition house for information
and support
- encourage and support her to make her own decisions
- let her know you’ll stand by her no matter what she decides
- be patient if she is confused or unsure about what to do
DO NOT:
- ask why she stays
- put the abuser down (she may still love the abuser)
- tell her what to do
- believe the common myths about woman abuse
- judge or lecture her
The messages you want to send:
- Her safety and her children’s safety are the most
important issues.
- Physical and sexual abuse are crimes.
- She is not the cause of her abuse.
- Violence is never okay.
- She is not alone.
- She cannot change her partner’s behaviour.
- Abuse is not a loss of control, it is a means of control.
Remember:
You have a responsibility to report to Child Protection
Services when children have witnessed repeated incidents
of abuse or are being directly abused.
