If someone is hurting your body or injuring you in any way, that is not ok. It doesn’t matter who they are, you have the right to be safe and nobody has the right to hurt you.
If you’re being hurt, it’s not your fault. Some people try to blame what they do on other things or other people, but there is no excuse for abuse. Ever.
There are lots of ways someone can hurt or injure you. Physical abuse can include:
- Punching
- Kicking
- Slapping
- Smacking
- Biting
- Shaking you
- Burning you
- Pulling your hair
Feelings
Physical abuse can make you feel lots of things like:
- Frightened
- Tired
- Lonely
- Sad
- Confused
- Angry
- Running away
- Harming yourself
Telling someone
There are lots of places where you can find help and the most important thing is that you tell someone you trust how you’re feeling and what’s happening. You are not to blame and telling someone doesn’t make you a grass. It means you know it is wrong and you want it to stop.
The person hurting you understands what they’re doing is wrong. They might threaten you not to tell. They do this because they know that if you tell someone, you will get help and things are going to change. You may think that telling someone might make the situation worse but it’s the only way to change what’s happening.
Although you may care about the person who is hurting you, they have no right to hurt you and it’s not your fault. You deserve to be safe and happy and that’s why it’s important to tell someone.
Who can help?
- Young Person’s Violence Advisor
- Checkpoint
- Your school nurse
- Your social worker (if you have one)
- Your doctor
- Police
If you want to talk to someone about how you are feeling, you can call ChildLine. Calls are free and confidential.
If you are in immediate danger contact the police on emergency telephone 999.
