Shame slows down help-seeking in intimate partner violence

Common facilities on the premises of Central Finland Emergency and Shelter. The picture shows a baby toy. — Intimate partner violence by adults often also affects the children in the family. Archive photo from a shelter in Central Finland from 2019.

For example, last year, more than 300 clients of the Lahti emergency and shelter home used outpatient services offering counselling.

The number of people seeking help for intimate partner violence is increasing.

For example, people often go to emergency and shelter services at an earlier stage than when an acute crisis is present.

– People have identified the violence and can go for counselling. Then it may be that in outpatient services we find that it is not safe for the client to be at home.

Suni believes that shame is still raising the threshold to use services. He also hopes that, for example, authorities will recognize insecurity in homes better and earlier.

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