Domestic abuse includes, but is not limited to, physical, emotional, financial, sexual and psychological abuse in an intimate or family relationship.  

While most domestic abuse survivors are female, the use of the term domestic abuse should not negate the experiences of, or support for, male survivors of these crimes. Domestic abuse impacts the lives of people of all ages (including young children, both male and female), all genders, all cultures and all socio-economic backgrounds.  

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (ONS, 2024) estimated 712,000 men experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024. 21% of male survivors failed to tell anyone they were a survivor of partner abuse (ManKind Initiative, 2025), which rises to 50% in Northern Ireland (Spikol et al, 2024). 58.9% of the men who called the UK-wide ManKind domestic abuse helpline stated they have never spoken to anyone else about their abuse. At the end of August 2024, there were 60 organisations across the UK with 436 refuge or safe accommodation spaces for male survivors of domestic abuse, only 128 of which are ‘male only’ spaces. 

How can we as nurses improve access to safe and appropriate care and support for male survivors of domestic abuse? 

References

Office for National Statistics (2024) Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview: November 2024. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/domesticabuseinenglandandwalesoverview/november2024

Mankind Initiative (no date) Statistics on male victims of domestic abuse. Available at: https://mankind.org.uk/statistics/statistics-on-male-victims-of-domestic-abuse/

Spikol E, McGlinchey E and Armour C (2024) Male Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence: The ME-IPV Study. Available at: https://www.cvocni.org/files/cvocni/2024-11/ME-IPV%20Report