Domestic abuse
Pages in Domestic abuse
- 1. Domestic abuse
- 2. Your options
- 3. Technology to support victims
- 4. You are here: Information for young people
4. Information for young people
It can be hard to spot the signs of an unhealthy (or toxic) relationship.
Toxic relationships don't always involve physical violence. Controlling behaviour, such as regularly intimidating, bullying, criticising or threatening someone in a personal relationship, are all forms of what is called 'coercive control'.
This is a form of domestic abuse and is a criminal offence.
Can you spot the signs of an unhealthy relationship?
If you're in a relationship, do they?
- Get jealous when you spend time with your friends
- Accuse you of flirting when you’re just being friendly
- Force you to do sexual things that you don’t want to
Common examples of coercive control include checking the other person's phone; wanting to know where they are and who they're with; or making them dress or look a certain way.
Support available
The LoveRespect website includes lots of helpful information for young people including a quiz to learn more about how healthy their relationship is, and advice on how to help a friend who might be spending time with someone who doesn’t treat them well.
Drawtheline.uk is an online interactive platform for use on a smartphone to help young people to identify harmful, toxic and abusive behaviour in their relationships and also provides information, help and advice.
See your options' section for more general support.
In an emergency you should always call 999.