Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day is taking place on Tuesday 4 November 2025.
One in six-seven men in Britain will suffer from domestic abuse in their lifetime whilst one in every three domestic abuse victims are male.
Supporting male victims of domestic abuse is a crucial, but an often overlooked area of domestic violence services. While public awareness campaigns and resources often highlight women’s experiences (which are indeed more prevalent statistically), men also experience abuse in intimate relationships and face unique challenges when seeking help. Here are some key points:
1. Understanding Domestic Abuse Against Men
- Forms of abuse: Men can experience physical violence, emotional abuse, coercive control, financial abuse, and sexual violence, just like women.
- Perpetrators: Abuse may come from female or male partners, family members, or caregivers.
- Prevalence: A UK Crime Survey showed that around 1 in 3 victims of domestic abuse are male.
2. Barriers Male Victims Face
- Stigma and stereotypes: Men may feel they will not be believed, or that admitting abuse undermines their masculinity.
- Lack of awareness: Many men don’t realize emotional or controlling behavior qualifies as abuse.
- Limited services: Shelters, hotlines, and counseling programs are often tailored for women, leaving fewer resources for men.
- Fear of ridicule: Male victims sometimes report being laughed at or dismissed by friends, authorities, or even professionals.
3. How to Support Male Victims
- Listen without judgment: Take their experiences seriously and validate their feelings.
- Encourage professional help: Suggest hotlines, counseling, or legal aid that support men.
- Safety planning: Work with them to develop strategies for staying safe, whether that means leaving the relationship, securing finances, or documenting abuse.
- Challenge stereotypes: Educate others that abuse can affect anyone, regardless of gender.
- Legal protections: Remind men that laws around domestic violence apply to them as well and they have equal rights to seek restraining orders or custody protections.
4. Special Considerations
- Children: Male victims who are fathers may worry about losing access to their children if they leave.
- Mental health: Abuse can cause depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Men may be less likely to seek therapy due to stigma.
- Intersectionality: Factors like sexuality, disability, culture, or immigration status can add layers of vulnerability.
The CWU – Essex and Central Counties Branch, in partnership with others across the UK is promoting the domestic abuse services they provide to male victims on Tuesday 4 November to encourage more men to get in contact – and to encourage others to encourage them too.
This is part of Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day 2025, which is a collective and coordinated campaign by similar organisations across the UK. The campaign which has the slogan #MenYouAreNotAlone has been created and organised by the ManKind Initiative charity.
More information can be found at these websites –
ManKind Charity website
MensAdviceLine website.