Domestic abuse is a significant public health issue
Experiencing domestic abuse can have serious impacts on mental health and wellbeing. Survivors are at increased risk of anxiety, depression and trauma-related conditions – the effects of which can last long after the abuse has ended.
Domestic abuse doesn’t only have a human cost – it also has a profound impact on our healthcare system.
We know survivors often have repeated contact with healthcare services, including multiple visits to GPs, emergency departments and other settings, before their abuse is recognised and support is offered. This places sustained pressure on our services and means opportunities to identify abuse earlier are often missed.
Domestic abuse is estimated to cost the NHS over £2.3 billion each year1, reflecting both the immediate and long-term impact on people’s health.
Despite the scale of this issue – with nearly four million people experiencing domestic abuse each year – there is still limited evidence on the full impact it has on people’s mental health and on what support works best to help people recover.
Opportunities to prevent harm and support recovery are being missed
Our research shows healthcare professionals are often the first people survivors turn to for help. Health settings are trusted spaces, and many survivors will come into contact with services during and after abuse.
But too often, systems are not set up to identify abuse early or respond in a consistent, joined-up way. This can mean survivors often do not get the support they need until their situation has reached crisis point.
The consequences can be severe. In the last five years, over 550 people have died by suicide following domestic abuse2.
At the same time, access to mental health support remains limited. Survivors consistently say that counselling and therapy are among their greatest needs, yet too many are unable to access timely, trauma-informed support or receive help for long enough to recover.
What the Domestic Abuse Commissioner is calling for
Domestic abuse must be treated as a public health issue, with a stronger focus on prevention, early intervention and recovery.
The Commissioner is calling for:
- Earlier identification and response – so healthcare professionals can recognise abuse and ensure people can access the right support as early as possible.
- Greater access to trauma-informed mental health support – including counselling and therapeutic care to support long-term recovery.
- Sustainable funding for specialist services – so survivors can access consistent, high-quality support in their community for as long as they need it.
- A whole-system approach – recognising the impact of domestic abuse across health, housing, education and beyond.
Find out more
Learn more about the Commissioner’s work to improve the health response to domestic abuse.