- Be a good listener--listen without judgment
- Respect her confidentiality
- Become informed about affects of living with violence
- Do not offer excuses for the violence or minimize its seriousness
- Talk to a shelter worker
- Help her find a safe place to stay
- Support her decisions even if you don’t agree
- Set limits for yourself and be clear about them
- Contact police if your family member/friend is in immediate danger
- Assess your own risk and safety plan
- Talk to your family member/friend about developing a safety plan
with you and a shelter worker
- Become familiar with reasons women stay in abusive relationships:
- Fear (that leaving will escalate the violence, that the abusive
partner will commit suicide)
- Hope (that the abusive behaviours will stop, that the partner will
change)
- Shame (that they are in this situation, about what others will
think)
- Individual/cultural beliefs about marriage and family
- Finances
- Children
- Unsure how to leave
- Physical dependency due to limitations
- Religious beliefs
- Immigration/sponsorship issues
- Love
Call us for assistance 905-387-9959
or check out these websites:
http://www.neighboursfriendsandfamilies.ca/eng/main.php
www.shelternet.ca
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