What a helpline actually does

Most people imagine somebody telling them to leave. That is not what happens, and if it happens, that is a bad service.

What a domestic abuse advocate does is listen, help you work out what your options actually are where you live, help you think through safety, and sit with you through whatever you decide, including deciding nothing this year. They are used to people who are not ready. That is most of their callers.

They do not usually report you to anyone against your wishes, though the rules on children and on serious injury differ by country, and you are allowed to ask that question at the start of the call before you say anything else. You can also call and say nothing about yourself, and ask what would happen if somebody in your situation called.