Family Violence & Staying Safe

Types of violence

There is NO excuse for violence. No one has a right to be violent or abuse another person. And no one deserves to be hurt - ever. If there's violence happening at home, whether it's happening to a parent, a sibling, or you, remember: it's not your fault. The person being violent is the one responsible for their actions.

It is important to understand the different kinds of violence and what they might look like so you know when to get help. Violence can be:

Physical

Like pushing, hitting, or choking someone, or in any way causing them pain.

Emotional

name-calling, saying mean things, making threats, or making someone feel bad about themselves are some examples.

Sexual

Scaring or hurting someone by touching private parts of their body when they do not want to be touched, making them touch private parts they do not want to, touching someone in a sexual way, or forcing someone to have sex or watch sexual acts.

• Neglect - like not giving someone what they need to stay safe and healthy, such as food, clothes, or love and attention.

Abuse and violence are an ugly secret in many homes. Unfortunately, lots of other children and teens experience this at home. You are not alone, there are people who can help. The most important thing is to stay safe.