Helping People Who Are Being Abused

Even though it’s hard to confront a friend who is being abused, it’s important to let them know that you’re there for them and that they don’t deserve to be abused. Below is a list of ways that you can help someone who is being abused.

  1. Believe your friend’s story.
  2. Make sure they’re safe.
  3. Let them know that they don’t deserve to be abused. No one deserves to be abused. No one “asks for it.”
  4. Ask them a lot of questions to get them to think about the problem.

Examples:

  • Why do you think they gets so jealous?
  • Do you think they has a right to decide who your friends are and how you should act around them?
  • How does their jealously make you feel?
  • How does the abuse make you feel?
  • Does they make you feel good about yourself?
  • Are you afraid of their anger?
  1. Ask them what their options are and what they can do (such as stay, leave, talk to their partner about the abuse, get advice from a professional).
  2. Let them know that abuse almost always gets worse in a relationship if it’s ignored. If the abuse is going to stop, then the person being abused has to be willing to take actions to end it.
  3. Encourage them to seek help. (Use community and personal resources).
  4. Remember the Friends Wheel!