There are certain signs that may indicate family violence is present. They could apply to the victim or the perpetrator. The following signs may be seen when family violence is present, but there are also many other causes of these signs, which are unrelated to family violence.
Composure: hostile, nervous, ashamed, evasive, reluctant to take advice.
Mental health: depression and anxiety, which may be associated with poor concentration, disordered sleeping or eating patterns, suicidal ideation, previous suicide attempts, alcohol and other drug problems, panic attacks, phobias and post-traumatic stress symptoms, and other psychiatric conditions.
Physical health: multiple health visits with seemingly minor concerns, ongoing health issues including headaches and pain, palpatations and shortness of breath, physical injuries, bruises, broken bones and repeated injuries.
Multiple chronic health issues, gastric upsets, poor control and management of chronic illness, poor compliance with medication, poor attendance at medical check-ups, poor attendance for antenatal checks.
Relationship dynamics: abusive person attends all appointments, speaks for the victim or the victim’s responses to questions seem rehearsed, victim describes abusive person as 'having a temper'.
Abusive person speaks down to the victim, criticises the victim in front of others, tells the victim that they are imagining conversations and events, which instils doubt in the victim about their own experience.
Look for signs in body language. A person experiencing violence can display inconsistency between their body language and their verbal language.
Some behaviours indicate that someone may be at high risk of being killed or harmed. You can read more about this on the Are you OK website(external link).
Controlling behaviour and intimidation, together with:
Have you seen someone who shows signs of being affected by family violence? Learn what you can say to them.