1800RESPECT - VIOLENCE AND ABUSE IS NOT OK
The Deniliquin Mental Health Awareness Group (Deni MHAG) continues their new digital and poster campaign, with a focus on raising awareness of confidential and free helplines.
The fourth of a 12-poster campaign has a focus on support for people who are impacted by domestic, family, or sexual violence. It encourages people who are worried about unhealthy, abusive, or violent behaviours in any of their relationships, to ask for help.
1800RESPECT is a free, confidential 24/7 helpline offering counselling and a support services. Counselling can happen via a phone call to 1800 737 732 or an online webchat, accessed via the 1800RESPECT website. The website also provides specific resources to better understand domestic and family violence, a well as sexual assault and violence. There is also information available for those supporting someone who is experiencing violence and abuse, as well as information ion about safety planning. Safety planning is thinking about things people need to do to be safer when living with violence and abuse.
Domestic and family violence can happen to anyone- regardless of country, religion, sexuality, gender, socio-economic status, age, or culture. It can also happen in any relationship and does not always have to be physical of nature. Violent behaviours can include psychological or emotional violence, financial abuse, social abuse (being cut off from friends and family) and financial abuse (for example stopping someone from getting a job or controlling someone’s money).
Domestic violence involves behaviours that makes you feel scared, and involves threats to you, your children, or your pets, and denies choice. It is an ongoing repeated pattern of behaviour to control you.
Sexual violence is being forced, pressured, or tricked into doing sexual things when you don’t want to, and can also be a form of domestic and family violence.
The very nature of these issues often mean that they are hidden, and people often feel too scared or ashamed to ask for help .
Living in a small community can sometimes make it even harder. We want to make sure our community knows that apart from the 24/7 1800RESPECT helpline, we also have local services available.
Vinnies Homelessness Service welcomes singles, couples, families, and young people who are experience homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. The service gives highest priority to woman and children escaping domestic violence. Case workers provide holistic case management to those that are experiencing domestic violence. This can include crisis accommodation, safety planning, advocacy, access to brokerage and appropriate referrals. To contact this service, call 5881 7411.
Deniliquin Health Service has a free and confidential sexual assault service which can be accessed by calling 5882 2925. They provide counselling and ongoing support for sexual assault victims and their non-offending families and friends. The after-hours number is 02 6058 4584.
MLHD also offers a range of services and support for people dealing with the experiences of domestic violence, and this service is also available at Deniliquin Health Service. People can access this service by calling 1800 654 324 to make an appointment to speak with the social worker.
Free Poster download
Download and print the new DV poster below.
They can be used for tea rooms, behind toilet doors, in offices and clubhouses.
All of Deni can be part of making sure our community knows when and where to look for help if needed.
