NICE calls for greater awareness about domestic violence and abuse

Domestic violence and abuse can affect anyone, both women and men regardless of their age or where they are from. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has called for a wider understanding in health and social care, as well as in society as a whole, about how we can help people experiencing it.

NICE has published new guidance which aims to help identify, prevent and reduce domestic violence and abuse. It outlines how health services, social care and the organisations they work with can respond effectively to domestic violence and abuse.

Domestic violence and abuse can be physical abuse, threats, emotional abuse, sexual assault or stalking by a partner, ex-partner or family member. Both men and women may perpetrate domestic violence and abuse, but it is more commonly inflicted on women by men. This is particularly true for severe and repeated violence and sexual assault.

Each year at least 1.2 million women and 784,000 men experience domestic violence and abuse in England and Wales, with one in three women and nearly one in five men experiencing it at some point in their lives. These figures are likely to underestimate the problem, because all types of domestic violence and abuse are under-reported in health and social research, to the police and other services.

Professor Mike Kelly, Director of the Centre for Public Health at NICE said:

"Domestic violence and abuse are far more common than people think. Everyone in society needs to understand both the extent of the problem and the damage it causes."

“This new guidance recommends that health and social care professionals should receive training so that they can recognise the signs of domestic violence and abuse, and ensure that those affected are aware of the help and support available to them."

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