This week from 15-21 November, the Ann Craft Trust will be running the fourth annual National Safeguarding Adults Week, a week dedicated to sharing how we can all take steps to keep people safe from harm.
The theme for this year is 'Creating Safer Cultures' with a focus on prevention.
Exploring emotional abuse
Like physical abuse, which is evident from bruises or injury, emotional abuse can be damaging and have a lasting effect. This type of abuse can appear in many forms, including the persistent breakdown of a person's worth using verbal and non-verbal cues.
Someone may emotionally abuse another to exhibit power. This form of abuse can be detrimental to a person's mental health and their well-being.
5 signs of emotional abuse
- Low-self esteem
- Unexplained weight loss
- A person may withdraw from activities they used to love
- Showing discomfort around a particular person
- Showing signs of insomnia
What can emotional abuse look like?
- Making a person feel isolated e.g. stopping them from seeing their friends, family or accessing educational support
- Taking away someone's choices, or preventing them from expressing their opinion
- Verbal and non-verbal abuse that makes someone feel uncomfortable or humiliated
- Verbal threats
- Patronising a person
- Intentionally abandoning someone or leaving them unattended when they need support e.g. they may require mobility aids
What can you do if you suspect someone is being emotionally or psychologically abused, or believe someone is an abuser?
- Support people to learn about emotional abuse
- Speak up
References:
SCIE: Types and indicators of abuse https://www.scie.org.uk/safeguarding/adults/introduction/types-and-indicators-of-abuse#psychological
Ann Craft Trust: https://www.anncrafttrust.org/what-is-emotional-abuse/
