Seeing someone you love being shouted at, hurt, or scared is really hard. It can make you feel worried, angry, confused, or even like it’s somehow your fault. It’s not. None of it is your fault.
You might be scared to talk about what’s happening, or feel like you’re the only one going through this. But you’re not alone - and there are people who care and want to help.
Domestic abuse is when a grown-up at home is hurting someone else they live with or are in a relationship with. This can include many things, for example:
- Shouting, threatening, or scaring someone on purpose
- Pushing, hitting, or hurting someone physically
- Controlling money, where someone goes, or who they see
- Blaming the other person for everything
- Hurting someone in front of others - especially children
Even if you weren’t the one being hurt, seeing or hearing abuse at home can still affect you. It can make you feel scared or anxious or you might have trouble sleeping or concentrating at school. You may feel like you have to keep it a secret or worry that someone might get hurt again.
It can feel really hard to speak up. Maybe you’re worried no one will believe you, or that things might get worse. But talking to someone you trust - like a teacher, youth worker, school nurse, or helpline - can really help. Here are some things you can do:
- Tell someone you trust: you don’t have to explain everything all at once. Just saying “something’s wrong at home” is a brave start.
- Reach out for help: there are people trained to support young people in your situation. For example, you can contact Childline online or phone them at 0800 1111.
- Find a safe space: know where you can go if you ever feel unsafe, like a friend’s house or school.
If someone is in immediate danger, call the police at 999. However, for other local support within Bury, you can call Safenet Bury on 0300 3033 581 at any time or visit the Safenet website. They have a confidential live chat function on their website 7 days a week.