Support for people who show harmful behaviours in relationships

PEOPLE who show harmful behaviours in their relationships are being urged to get help in a new campaign aimed at reducing domestic abuse and supporting families.

In 2023/24 there were 3692 domestic abuse suspects from Tameside reported to Greater Manchester Police – of these 673 were repeat suspects.

Tameside Council is working with partners to help people to break the cycle of harmful behaviours and help build safer, stronger and happier home environments.

The support, commissioned by the council and provided by Talk Listen Change, can help people build better relationships with their families, where everyone will benefit including any children they have.

People can self refer onto the programme or they can be referred by a professional working with them such as a GP or social worker.

An unhealthy behaviour is a direct action that intimidates your partner or another family member and makes them feel scared or anxious. It could be hitting, kicking, shouting, criticising them, or subjecting them to emotional or financial abuse. It could be preventing them from seeing friends or family or controlling what they wear or where they go.

The programme has successfully reduced physical and emotionally abusive behaviours in most people who have completed it.

Tameside Council Executive Member for Public Health Cllr Taf Sharif said: “ People are at the heart of all we do. We want to support you to have safe, happy and healthy relationships.

“It’s normal to have disagreements and get into arguments with your partner or a family member from time to time. But if you’re causing them physical or frequent emotional harm, it’s time to seek help and we want you to know we have effective support available in a welcoming and non judgemental environment.”

The programme includes work around: identifying healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships; raising awareness of the impact of domestic abuse on children, partner and self and; reflecting on the participant’s own incidents of abuse. Benefits can include: reduction of physical violence; respectful relationships; decreased isolation; enhanced parenting; understanding of the impact and: reduced impact on children.

There are bespoke programmes tailored for different needs including people in same sex relationships, women who use harm and people where English is not their first language. Partners, family members and children will also be offered support whilst the person is accessing TLC support

For more information and to get support see www.bridgespartnership.org.uk/breakthecycle.

The Bridge Partnership website also signposts to support for people experiencing domestic abuse.