Domestic violence is not just physical assault. Victims of domestic violence say the emotional abuse is the most devastating.
Physical bruises heal, but emotional abuse destroys the very essence of an individual.
It occurs across all levels of society and is not easy to pick unless you ask. Domestic abuse results in a range of significant health problems other than acute injury. Victims of domestic abuse are more likely to attend a doctor's surgery for treatment of complaints such as anxiety, depression, pelvic pain, sexual and gynaecological problems, not coping. Or, for problems with children such as bed wetting, anxiety, behaviour problems at school. Doctor's don't ask because they don't think about it.