With October being Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Abuse Awareness Month, the听Office of Victim Assistance (OVA)听would like to share a few tips on how to support a friend who may be in an abusive relationship.听
- Listen; your friend may be confused about their relationship.
- Talk with your friend about what you are seeing.听For example, 鈥淚 am concerned for your safety鈥� and 鈥淵ou do not deserve to be treated that way.鈥�
- Be specific.听For example, 鈥淲hen your partner insults you, I get worried,鈥� or 鈥淚 am concerned when I see your partner control when and who you can go out with.鈥�
- Offer options, like coming to OVA for support.
- Avoid taking control of the situation and telling your friend what to do.
- Don鈥檛 ignore it.
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鈥檚 Office of Victim Assistance, a free and confidential advocacy and counseling center on campus for students, staff and faculty. They are听located in听room S440 on the fourth floor of the Center for Community (C4C), open from听8 a.m. to 5 p.m.听Monday through Friday.
You can also email assist@colorado.edu or call 303-492-8855 for help, which offers听after-hours phone counselors.
