"I’m worried for a friend who is in an abusive relationship. How can I be a good friend to them?"
Being a good friend to someone in an abusive relationship is a challenging role to take. The most important thing is to take care of yourself first and ensure that your safety is maintained. If you feel that your friend’s safety may be compromised, contact emergency services or the Crisis Response Centre.
Abusive partners often seek to isolate their partner, so ensuring that the friend knows you are there for them can help them feel less alone. This can be achieved in a variety of ways, including setting regular dates to hang out or speak on the phone, sending them posts on social media that remind you of them, or simply saying that you support them . It may feel frustrating that your friend stays with their abusive partner because it is likely that you will not understand the benefits of the relationship . However, relationships are filled with different factors and dynamics that are only clear to the people directly involved. Send compassion instead of criticism and understanding instead of judgement to your friend .
Some resources on domestic abuse:
Women’s Aid: I’m worried about someone else
Helping a friend experiencing domestic abuse during COVID-19
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Miss Emma Dilemma
Hey everyone, I am Miss Emma Dilemma from Healthy U! I am here to help answer your student related health and wellness questions and get you out of your dilemma!
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