Best Practice

Domestic abuse: The hidden legacy of the pandemic

Mental health Pastoral issues Behaviour Safeguarding Pupil wellbeing Attendance Coronavirus
Domestic abuse in the family can have significant implications for the welfare and wellbeing of young people – and lockdown has seen a dramatic rise in cases. Sara Alston looks at what we can expect as pupils return in September


Hidden within the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic is a terrifying rise in domestic abuse.

Last year, 830,000 children experienced domestic abuse in their own homes. In the first three months of lockdown, there was a 70 to 80 per cent increase in calls to domestic abuse helplines. And this will be only those who are willing or able to request help (Townsend, 2020; Headteacher Update, 2020).

These figures are only the tip of the iceberg. There will be many more who are living with unreported abuse. On average, victims live with abuse for two to three years, experiencing 50 incidents of abuse before getting help (SafeLives, 2015). Victims need to be asked multiple times by a professional about their abuse before they make disclosures (Price et al, 2007).

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