With October being Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Abuse Awareness Month, the Office of Victim Assistance (OVA) would like to share a few tips on how to support a friend who may be in an abusive relationship.
- Listen; your friend may be confused about their relationship.
- Talk with your friend about what you are seeing. For example, “I am concerned for your safety” and “You do not deserve to be treated that way.”
- Be specific. For example, “When your partner insults you, I get worried,” or “I am concerned when I see your partner control when and who you can go out with.”
- Offer options, like coming to OVA for support.
- Avoid taking control of the situation and telling your friend what to do.
- Don’t ignore it. More information on how to help can be found here.
It can be hard to see someone you care about in this kind of relationship. Remember to take care of yourself, too. OVA also provides support to friends helping friends.
For more information, visit CU Boulder’s Office of Victim Assistance, a free and confidential advocacy and counseling center on campus for students, staff and faculty. They are located in room S440 on the fourth floor of the Center for Community (C4C), open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
You can also email assist@colorado.edu or call 303-492-8855 for help, which offers after-hours phone counselors.
