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LAST REVIEWED 11 November 2022

Don’t feel safe at home? Where to find support for domestic abuse

Domestic abuse can have a negative impact on young people’s mental health. Read Good Thinking’s wellbeing advice and find out where to go for help.

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Domestic abuse might involve someone at home being violent towards you, controlling what you do or threatening to harm you. You might also be worried about someone else, such as your brother or sister or a friend, who may be experiencing domestic abuse. The NSPCC website contains lots of useful information and advice to help you understand what is happening.

This kind of abuse can have a negative impact on your mental health. It might make you feel sad or angry. You might find it difficult to sleep, eat or concentrate on your schoolwork. Perhaps you feel guilty as you think it might be your fault even though it isn’t.

If you’ve witnessed or you’re experiencing domestic abuse – or you’re worried that a situation might escalate – please reach out for help.

  • If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. If you can’t talk, you can make a silent call by dialling 999 then pressing 55 when the operator starts talking so that your call can be transferred to the police.
  • It’s really important that you tell an adult you trust, like one of your teachers, your GP or a social worker. They’ll be able to help you get the right support.
  • You can call Childline for free on 0800 1111 to talk in confidence to a trained counsellor about current or past abuse. If it is difficult to talk, you can send a text to Shout (text SHOUT to 85258). 
  • If you can get to a local pharmacy, ask for ‘ANI’ (pronounced like the name ‘Annie’) and the pharmacy team will support you.
  • If you’re extremely worried about your mental health, contact your local 24/7 NHS helpline – you can find details on our Urgent Support page.


London’s digital mental wellbeing service, Good Thinking, provides lots of resources to help young people manage feelings of anxiety, stress and low mood. This includes short guides and NHS-approved wellbeing apps that are free to Londoners, which may help you feel calmer and help you think about your situation. We’ve included some links to useful Good Thinking resources and support organisations at the end of this article – please visit our Young People section for more mental health tips.

Good Thinking resources

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Good Thinking provides a range of resources to help Londoners improve their mental wellbeing.

Topic
SleepAnxietyLow moodStress
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