Supports if you are experiencing abuse at home

Your home should be a safe place, but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. If you are experiencing abuse at home, be it emotional, physical, sexual or coercive, there are supports available to help. Speaking to someone about what is happening in your life can feel scary, but these services are here to help and can offer advice and support for whatever you are going through. Your health and safety are important and you deserve to be able to live a happy and healthy life, free from fear of abuse. You can speak to these services anonymously through text, online, over the phone or in person.

Help for domestic abuse in Ireland

There are organisations out there that can help. Here are places you can contact if you are feeling unsafe or having a hard time at home:

Text About It

If you need emotional support at any time, our free, 24/7 text support service Text About It is there to help. From breakups, abuse or bullying to anxiety, depression and suicidal feelings, our Crisis Volunteers are available 24/7 for anonymous text conversations. Our aim is to provide immediate support in the short term and connect people to resources that will help them in the future.

• Get anonymous support 24/7 with our text message support service
• Connect with a trained volunteer who will listen to you, and help you to move forward feeling better
• Free-text SPUNOUT to 50808 to begin
• Find out more about our text message support service

If you are a customer of the 48 or An Post network or cannot get through using the ‘50808’ short code please text HELLO to 086 1800 280 (standard message rates may apply). Some smaller networks do not support short codes like ‘50808’

Childline

Ireland’s national listening service for children and young people up to the age of 18.

• Phone: 1800 66 66 66 (24 hours)
• Chat online: Childline.ie (10am – 4am)
• Text: 50101 (10am – 4am)

Women’s Aid

Women’s Aid offers advice and practical support for women and children who are being physically, emotionally and sexually abused in their own homes.

You can call their national helpline for free on 1800 341 900

Men’s Aid

Men’s Aid supports men and their families experiencing domestic abuse. Their helpline is available to offer advice and support at 01-5543811

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre offer a free, national 24-hour helpline on 1800 77 88 88 for anyone who has experienced sexual assault, rape or childhood sexual abuse. The line remains open at all times during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

Samaritans

You can call the Samaritans at any time to talk to a volunteer about anything that’s on your mind. The can be reached for free at 116 123