Overcoming your Hesitation to Help

Here are some concerns your may have about whether you should help:

Points of Concern	Points to Consider
You feel it's none of your business	It could be a matter of life or death. Violence is everyone's business
You don't know what to say	Saying you care and are concerned is a good start
You might make things worse	Doing nothing could make things worse
It's not serious enough to involve the police	Police are trained to respond and utilize other resources
You are afraid his violence will turn to you or your family	Speak to her alone. Let the police know if you receive threats
You think she doesn't really want to leave because she keeps coming back	She may not have had the support she needed
You are afraid she will become angry with you	Maybe, but she will know you care
You feel that both partners are your friends	One friend is being abused and lives in fear
You believe that if she wanted help, she would ask for it	She may be too afraid or ashamed to ask for help
You think it is a private matter	It isn't when someone is being hurt

Always keep yourself safe. Don't get in the middle of an assault. Call the police in an emergency. Everyone can work to prevent woman abuse.