Safety Alert

Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a safer computer, call your local hotline, and/or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Know the Signs: Guide for Friends & Family

Your support and encouragement can be of tremendous value to a friend or coworker involved in an abusive relationship. You can ease the isolation and loss of control your friend may feel by listening, providing information, and helping to explore options.

Here are some possible signs that your friend or coworker is being abused and needs your help:

Does your friend have visible injuries, such as black eyes, bruises or broken bones? Do you tend not to press further about frequent “accidents” that cause absences from work?
Does your friend’s partner exert an unusual amount of control over their activities? Are you reluctant to discuss the partner’s control over family finances, the way she dresses, and their contact with friends and family?
If your friend’s partner ridicules her publicly, do you and others ignore this behavior? Do you already sense the volatile nature of these comments?
Have you noticed changes in your friend’s or the children’s behavior? Do they appear frightened, exhausted, or on edge? Do the children seem to be easily upset? Are they experiencing problems in school or other activities?