‘Men do not need to suffer domestic abuse in silence’ – Wells

Men do not need to suffer domestic abuse in silence. That was the key message from Health Minister, Jim Wells, as he officially opened the Men’s Advisory Project (MAP) new premises in Belfast.

Health Minister Jim Wells

MAP provide confidential counselling, information and referral services to men experiencing domestic abuse and relationship breakdown in Northern Ireland.

It also provides counselling for men and women who identify problems managing anger.

Speaking as he opened the new premises at Glendinning House, Murray Street, Wells said, “In recent years, it has become clear that domestic violence can affect anyone, regardless of their gender, social standing, age, ethnicity or sexuality.

“Whilst the home should be a place of safety and rest, sadly, for many people, the home is actually a source of great fear and danger.

“The impact of domestic violence on individuals’ health and wellbeing is substantial: psychological and psychiatric problems, such as depression, anxiety, despair and suicide attempts are higher among those who have been abused, compared with those who have not.

“Furthermore, domestic violence impacts not only victims but also their families and the wider community. It has been estimated that the economic cost of domestic violence and abuse in Northern Ireland for 2010/11 was approximately £610m.

He added, “This estimated figure includes health, social care, housing, lost economic output, criminal justice services and, most importantly, the intangible human costs.”

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Posted by Newry Times News on Oct 31 2014. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry