Consequences

The consequences of domestic violence and abuse are far reaching.

• Domestic abuse also impacts significantly on the lives and health of children involved and is closely associated with child abuse and neglect (SafeLives, 2012).
• From an economic perspective it has been estimated that currently in the UK the aggregate cost of domestic abuse is around £3.9 billion a year with a significant proportion of this located within the health sector (SafeLives, 2012).

Impact on health, both short and long term.

• Mental health and wellbeing (for example, depression, alcohol and substance misuse, anxiety, self harm)
• Physical (for example, injury and trauma, associated ill health including, gastro-intestinal, gynaecological problems)