Amen launches abuse campaign

AOIFE CARR

An awareness campaign to highlight domestic abuse against men got underway today.

Organised by Amen, a voluntary group providing a confidential helpline and support and information to male victims of domestic abuse, the campaign will feature advertisements on public transport, in national and local newspapers and on radio for the next two weeks to encourage victims to come forward and seek help.

In 2010, there were 4,683 contacts made to Amen, of which 4084 were phone calls. Calls to the service increased late last year after a storyline in Fair City  featured a male character suffering abuse at the hands of his wife.

Men contacting the helpline report physical, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse perpetrated by their female partners.

Most men react by staying silent. Often this silence is encouraged by factors such as fear of ridicule and the realisation that it is unlikely a female partner will be convicted

David Ring, director and chairman of the  charity, said the purpose of the campaign is to stamp out the stigma attached to being a male victim of domestic abuse.

“Amen wants to let those men suffering silently and alone know that help is available. The campaign is the third such awareness campaign run by Amen and has been funded by Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence.”

The Amen helpline can be contacted on 046-9023718.

• Email Us
• |