On this page, we talk about different types of violence or abuse.

There is support available if the information on this page upsets you.

You can find out more on our page about support.

On this page:

• About violence or abuse
• Different types of violence or abuse

Violence or abuse can happen anywhere.

This includes:

• at home
• at work
• online
• in the community.

Violence or abuse can make people feel:

• alone
• ashamed
• confused.

It can also make people feel bad for a long time.

It is not always easy to notice violence and abuse.

But learning about it can help keep people safe.

We explain the different types of violence or abuse below.

Violence or abuse can happen through technology.

For example, when a person sends messages to someone’s mobile phone to:

• scare them
• control them.

You can find out more on our page about violence or abuse through technology.

Coercive control is when someone tries to control your life over time.

They might do this by:

• making choices for you, like what you will eat and wear
• keeping you away from family and friends
• making you feel bad about yourself
• threatening you.

You can find out more on our page about coercive control.

This type of violence or abuse is when a person makes someone feel bad about their:

• religion
• culture.

  Your culture is:

  • your way of life
  • how you think or act now because of how you grew up
  • your beliefs
  • what is important to you.

The person might also try to stop someone from taking part in their religion or culture.

You can find out more on our page about violence or abuse because of your religion or culture.

Domestic and family violence is when someone close to you hurts you, such as:

• your partner, like your boyfriend or girlfriend
• a member of your family
• someone who takes care of you
• someone you live with.

You can find out more on our page about domestic and family violence.

Emotional violence or abuse is when someone:

• says things to make you feel scared or bad about yourself
• makes you feel confused about what has happened to you
• controls what you do.

You can find out more on our page about emotional violence or abuse.

Financial violence or abuse is when someone: 

• takes your money 
• stops you having a say in how you spend your money
• makes you pay for other people's things. 

You can find out more on our page about financial violence or abuse.

Violence or abuse can happen because of your gender.

This includes violence or abuse to:

• women
• gender diverse people.

  A gender diverse person is someone:

  • who feels like they do not fit the idea of being a man or a woman
  • whose gender given to them when they were born does not match the gender they are.

You can find out more on our page about violence or abuse because of your gender.

Sexual harassment is when someone:

• makes sexual comments about you
• behaves in a sexual way towards you.

You can find out more on our page about sexual harassment.

Sexual violence or abuse is when someone:

• makes you do sexual things you do not want to do
• does something sexual to you that you do not want them to do.

You can find out more on our page about sexual violence or abuse.

You can also experience sexual violence from your partner.

For example, your:

• boyfriend
• girlfriend
• wife
• husband.

You can find out more on our page about sexual violence or abuse from your partner.

Microaggressions are small ways that people treat someone unfairly because of who they are.

For example, they might use certain words to talk about disability that are not okay.

You can find out more on our page about microaggressions.

Physical violence or abuse is when someone:

• hurts your body
• tries to control your body.

You can find out more on our page about physical violence or abuse.

Stalking is when someone follows or watches you over a period of time.

Stalking can happen:

• at home
• at work
• online.

It can make you feel:

• unsafe
• like you have no control.

You can find out more on our page about stalking.