Your Life Line

Abuse is act of unnecessary behaviour that often occurs behind closed doors. It can be anything from verbal to violent abuse. The main advice to give is to not hide your troubles from anyone, tell someone about the abuse and show them your mark (if the abuse is violent) as proof as if you do not they abuse will carry on.

Abuse - What is it?

There are four main types of abuse:

• Neglect - "I come home to an empty house every day, there's nothing in the fridge. No one notices if I go to school or not." This is the most common form of abuse. It's when our basic needs - like food, clothing or warmth - aren't properly met.
• Physical abuse - "I wear long sleeves to cover the bruises and throw a sickie on swimming days so no one finds out." This is where someone physically hurts us, by physical punishments or any violent treatment.
  
• Emotional abuse - "My mum tells me I am a bitch. She blames me for my dad moving out." This could be a complete lack of love and attention, or too much spiteful and cruel attention.
  
• Sexual abuse - "I hate it when my uncle visits. I wish we had a lock on our bedroom door." This is when someone treats us in a sexual way or shows us sexual images, when we're under 16 years old, or when we don't want them to. Adults who sexually abuse, or want to sexually abuse, children are called paedophiles.
  

I think I'm being abused...

You must tell someone. Please. There are people who can help you. Talk to an adult you trust like a teacher or your GP.

You could tell a family member, a friend, one of your teachers and if that does not solve anything contact the police.