DOMESTIC ABUSE

Understanding Abuse Against Men

If you’ve found your way here, it might be because something in your life doesn’t feel right. Maybe you feel isolated, controlled, or constantly criticised. Maybe you’re questioning your own perception of events, or struggling with the way someone is treating you.

Domestic abuse against men is real, and it often looks different from what most people expect. It can be emotional, financial, legal, parental, or physical — and it can leave lasting effects even when the relationship has ended.

A man with a shaved head and gray beard rests his forehead against a textured stone wall.

In England and Wales, roughly 1 in 5 adult men have experienced domestic abuse in their lifetime — that’s about 5.2 million men.

Every year, an estimated 1.5 million men experience abuse. Many of them never report it, meaning the real scale is likely higher.

Source: ONS / ManKind Initiative

This space is for men at any stage:

  • You might not yet realise you are experiencing abuse.

  • You might be currently in an abusive relationship and need guidance.

  • You might have left an abusive relationship but still feel the effects.

  • You might be dealing with parental alienation or the aftermath.

  • Or you might be an interested friend, family member, or professional seeking understanding.

“I didn’t realise what I was experiencing was abuse, until a colleague pointed it out to me. That simple recognition changed everything — it allowed me to start seeing patterns clearly and take the first steps toward regaining control.” – Mike, SoulForge Community founder

To understand what you might be experiencing, start with what abuse actually looks like for men.