It takes a lot of courage to speak up, so the first thing is to use the LBS principle
- LISTEN –practise active listening while allowing the victim to unburden their hearts
- BELIEVE – Validate them by letting the victim know
-you believe them
-It is not their fault and the abuse should never have happened
– God hates abuse and there is no excuse for abuse
- SAFETY – Safety is paramount. Ask if the victim is safe or feel safe enough to return home .
These are the first crucial steps following a disclosure of domestic abuse and further steps can be found in What to do
Remember domestic abuse will most likely escalate if there is no intervention.